Background
The English Golf Union (EGU) is the largest sporting governing body in England with an individual membership of 735,000 at 1,896 affiliated golf clubs. By being an individual member of a golf club you are automatically a member of the EGU. The role of the EGU is to promote, administer and encourage men's amateur golf in England. Amateur golfers do not make any money out of playing, they play for the enjoyment and the play is at varying levels of ability. There are very few sports where you can play with your friends who are either better or worse than you, yet you can compete with the same chance of success. Once amateur golfers reach a certain level they can become Professional golfers and then go on to make a living out of playing golf in tournaments as mentioned below or as golf coaches.

Golf is one of the oldest sports with many years of tradition and history, many people who have never played the game will have seen it on television with coverage of Championships such as The Open, the US Masters and The Ryder Cup, the famous names you will hear are Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Nick Dougherty an Nick Faldo. The EGU represents and coaches a large number of top English golfers in International matches. Many of the top golfers in the world are sporting celebrities who become multi millionaires, travelling the world whilst playing a game that they love.

Is Golf for you?
Many boys and girls think of golf as a game for people who are the same age as their parents and grandparents and not for children of school age and students in further education - 64,000 juniors who are members of golf clubs think differently. There are also many boys and girls who play golf and are not members of golf clubs, but are in the early stages of taking up the game and just play casually with their parents or friends before deciding that golf is something they wish to play on a long term basis. As a member of a golf club you will become part of the junior section, you will meet other juniors, the club will organise coaching and competitions and help you integrate into the club as a whole.

How can the English Golf Union help you?
The EGU has a Junior Golf Department who can assist all levels of juniors from a beginner to an elite player, we can advise about all aspects of golf and all other areas associated with playing golf such as careers in golf and further education. If you need advice on any of the following please contact the Junior Golf Department on the details below:

How to start to play golf
Where to go for lessons
Membership vacancies
How to get a handicap
Clubs and practice facilities in your area
Junior competitions - local and regional
EGU National Coaching Structure
Contacting your local county representative
EGU National Junior Competitions
EGU representative teams
Opportunities in further and higher education, and funding whilst in further education
Studying in America
Grants for coaching university teams
Careers in golf
And anything else associated with golf for juniors and youths

Please contact the English Golf Union at the following:

Write to:
English Golf Union
The National Golf Centre
The Broadway
Woodhall Spa
Lincolnshire
LN10 6PU

E-mail: 
rbrown@englishgolfunion.org (North & Midlands areas)
dwebber@englishgolfunion.org (South East & West areas)
juniorgolf@englishgolfunion.org (General enquiries)


Telephone: 
R Brown 01653 697578 or 07803 661890 (North & Midlands areas)
D Webber 01258 471477 or 07736 105227 (South East & West areas)

Website: 
Visit the EGU website on www.englishgolfunion.org for further details on all areas of junior development.