Express & Star

Success par for the course at 3 Hammers

3 Hammers Colf Complex academy director Rob Bluck is in high spirits after two successful events at the course.

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The second national Street Golf Championship and the Wolverhampton Tri-Golf final were both held at the par-three venue on Old Stafford Road, Coven.

First to take place was the Street Golf event, with teams from community golf programmes across 16 Premier League and Championship football clubs.

They included Villa and Stoke, bearing their teams' strips and competing for the crown. Youngsters of all abilities were involved.

The competition was organised by the Golf Foundation, in partnership with Premier League 4 Sport, Sport England and Get into Golf.

The final was aimed at junior competitors, with teams of four playing adapted formats of golf such as 'Super Sixes' and 'Flag Golf' in the morning and afternoon.

Cardiff City, who won the inaugural trophy in 2015, were victorious once again.

The youngsters who took part were also treated to a display by trick shot extraordinaire Kevin Carpenter on the driving range.

Bluck said: "We held the grand final for the second year running and it was a fantastic event.

"Fortunately, the rain managed to hold off throughout the day. We were initially supposed to start at 10am but we had to put it back for half an hour.

"But, after that, it all ran smoothly until we finished at 4pm, then the rain started pouring down.

"A young girl called Georgia Smith, from Oxfordshire, managed to get a hole in one in front of the Sky cameras, as they were down here as well, so that tuned out really well.

"Kevin Carpenter did a trick shot show, which was awesome and everyone really enjoyed it. All in all, it was a massive success."

On the following day, 60 pint-sized golfers from schools across the Black Country descended on the 3 Hammers course for the Tri-Golf final.

Involved were six primary schools – St Stephen's, Claregate, St Andrew's, St Michael's, The Royal and Stow Heath – with each having won a qualifying event to get to the final.

From each school there were 10 children – five boys, five girls – aged six to nine taking part in a series of challenges on the complex's 10,000 square foot artificial practice and putting area.

Playing with soft clubs and balls, they competed to win certificates, medals and trophies but before that, were given time to practice with some PGA golf professionals.

St Stephen's Church of England Primary School were the winners and will soon head to the Staffordshire School Games county final.

Bluck was equally as thrilled with how the event went, and said: "We had 60 kids here from all across Wolverhampton.

"It was kids who have given golf a go in their schools so it was nice to have them down here and experience playing on the course.

"It was St Stephen's who won it, the weather tried its best to ruin it again but it all went well.

"Tri-Golf festivals are played with a soft club and ball but being as they were down here, we got them on the driving range with a proper club and ball and they enjoyed it.

"We have got a number of kids now who have shown an interest in carrying on with golf and coming along to our sessions down here as well."

3 Hammers Golf Complex recently won the Golf Foundation's national Critchley Community Award for getting juniors into the sport.

Over 250 children learn at the complex ever week in their Tri-Golf and Junior Golf Passport classes.

Bluck believes the Street Golf and the Tri-Golf events were a great way to top off a fantastic few months for 3 Hammers.

He added: "We have just won the award for our work with juniors so these events summed up what we are all about. It was the icing on the cake."

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