LIV Golf star and Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter hopes LIV Golf in Staffordshire can inspire next generation

The Majesticks GC’s headline community impact programme, Little Sticks, is being showcased at the event at the JCB Golf and Country Club near Uttoxeter this week.

The initiative seeks to create a more inclusive and enjoyable environment for children and young people to unleash their potential through golf.

Poulter, who has been heavily involved in the programme’s rollout alongside teammate Lee Westwood, is proud of its reach so far.

He said: “It’s amazing. We are two years into Little Sticks. With the help of my fellow co-captains (Westwood and Henrik Stenson) and Sam Horsfield, we have built what we feel is an incredible curriculum that has gone into the PE school system.

“We have 200 schools that have taken this up now, so I believe that’s more than 40,000 children that it will reach by the end of 2025.

“We have got it here this week and will be getting as many kids coming into the programme and just getting a club into their hands for the first time, and seeing what we can do within the community and UK sport system. 

“It has been pretty rewarding for us to see the growth in that. When we sat down and spoke about it and about how many kids we can touch, it is pretty remarkable today with the help of LIV and everyone involved that we can hit that many kids in a short space of time.

“It’s pretty special to see.”

Little Sticks offers a life skills curriculum using Majestics GC players including Ryder Cup veterans Poulter and Westwood as role models.

The programme partnered with Complete PE to develop a Little Sticks ‘Striking and Aiming’ unit of work to see schools in England to teach golf within the PE curriculum from year-three onwards.

It’s hoped this will provide the opportunity for every child to access the game of golf as part of their school’s education.

The LIV Golf UK tournament at JCB Golf and Country Club begins tomorrow.