FROM STREETGAMES TO STREETGOLF: A STREET CHALLENGE

Golf game is not an easy game to understand for everyone. There're codes, etiquettes and more imortantly huge fees. Golf appear to be out of reach of people with low incomes, they don't even consider playing golf despite they secretly dream to. Isn't it easlily understandable considering the price of the golf gear,the golf apparel, country club fee and green fee... Nike tried once to be a game changer bringing golf to the mass, it actually worked thanks to the advent of Tigerwoods but only in the U.S. 
The challenge is enormous: how to bring a sport considered as elite and high income delight exclusivity, to the doorstep of the mass? How to be a real life game changer? How to engage youth and communities from lower socio-economic background? How to improve self-esteem, leaderschip and bound local community workers while having fun?
That's the challenge  streetgames is willing to take on with streetgolf !

(source: streetgames)

A commitment for sport and communities

Streetgames is a UK based sports charity launched in 2007 "that brings sport to the doorstep of young people in disadvantaged communitie across the UK". They aim to change lives and communities with grass root sport for the "better". 

How they do it? "We do it by supporting a network of projects which give sports and volunteering opportunities to young people in disadvantaged communities across the UK. 

"Street golf aims to bring the game to young people regarless where they live and the facilities that  they are able to acces"  

Doorstep sport is StreetGames’ delivery method, whereby we bring sport close to the home in disadvantaged communities at the right time, for the right price, to the right place and in the right style. For sure sport is the right medecine! Streetgames listen to young people and give them opportunities to "enjoy"sport the way they like it, minimum rules, maximun fun!

source streetgames: : Action Images / James Benwell and Peter Cziborra

The doorstep sport model

A doorstep sport is sport brought close to home to young people in disadvantaged at the right time, for the right price to the right place and ( the most important for me ) in the right style. Streetgames strongly believes that all young people should have access to sport regardless of their social background. That's all what streetgolf is .

"innovative, imaginative, relaxed, for young people by young people, a game for everyone, no rules...your club, your style, informal, wherever whenever however, your neighbourhood your game" 

Under the banner of his partnership with HSBC, streetgames brings golf in a new format to young people who never thought one day they could play just like Tigerwoods but in an urban non fancy environment. I mean close to where they live, with people from where they are from. "Street golf aims to bring the game to young people regarless where they live and the facilities that  they are able to acces " said Justin Price the Streetgames UK training manager. however They utilize special Golf Xtreme equipment and " specially adapted golf ball that can be used in most places", the Almost golf balls added Justin Price.

source: streetgames :Photo courtesy of Golf Roots North East

Grow the game...but safty first

Streetgames built an impressive tailored coach program  that encourage Street Golf Activators to be flexible, creative and ready to adapt. They emphasise on the coach's responsibilities as a role model and full grown person. That means no real golf ball for the kids - amen .Unlike traditional golf balls,  Almost Golf balls are made out of  plastic and only travel 50% of the distance of a regular ones. They can be used indoors or in built-up urban environment without the risk of causing serious damages to building, car and people.In sipte of that young people still says streetgolf is :"innovative, imaginative, relaxed, for young people by young people, a game for everyone, no rules...your club, your style, informal, wherever whenever however, your neighbourhood your game" .

source streetgames:Photo courtesy of Golf Roots North East

Thanks to Justin Price and Streetgames for providing me with informations , you can contact them on their twitter account @streetgames , they're really quick to answer.