Pupils at Lawn Manor Academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, have been given a special opportunity to explore golf thanks to special after-school sessions to introduce them to the sport.

Whilst golf is not a sport traditionally offered by schools, the combination of having Broome Manor Golf Club on the doorstep and PE teacher Dan Maller’s passion for the game, pupils have been given the special opportunity to develop their own future in the sport with introductory courses.

The two week course takes place at Broome Manor after school and eight pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9, as well as another group of eight from Years 10 and 11, have been given expert tuition in how to get started. Pupils can then choose to continue playing in their own time, with the possibility of joining one of Broome Manor’s Golf Academy programmes.

Dan explained, “I had the opportunity to try out golf when I was in school and now 14 years later I still play every week. So I wanted to give our pupils at Lawn Manor Academy the same chance to have a go at something that they may love too.

“We wanted to help our pupils experience sports and games away from the traditional school sports and golf can be a great option for those who want to develop skills in a game that has a great social aspect but is centred on an individual’s skills. Often with sports like golf, unless your friends or family already play it can be hard to get into.

“The 16 pupils taking part in these introductory sessions have engaged really well and are trying hard to develop and improve their skills. The majority of them have never picked up a club before but by the end of the course they will have the basic knowledge they need to continue to success.”

Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust. For more information, visit www.lawnmanor.org