THE GBQ PODCAST
Keep your eyes peeled for another Golf It!
It’s had a huge impact on its local community, so could we soon see another Golf It! springing up in the UK or further afield? Head of golf Alyson Mckechin is asked the question
It’s renowned as “Golf’s New Playground” so could we soon see more Golf it! facilities across the world? Keep your eyes peeled, says Alyson Mckechin.
Head of Golf at The R&A’s flagship community facility in Glasgow, the Scottish coach of the year told Sarah Stirk on The GBQ Podcast it might not be too long before we see the combination of golf course, street food, and coaching popping up in another community.
Golf It!, the golf and entertainment project that has transformed the former Leathamhill golf course in Glasgow, has been a huge success since the doors were opened in 2023.
With a driving range, adventure golf, a welcoming hub and a 9-hole golf course, it was created to show golf “really is a game for everyone”.
On the podcast, Mckechin told Stirk more than 16,000 children has been introduced to the sport over the past couple of years and expressed her desire for Golf It! to become the number one venue in Scotland to learn, play or practice golf.
“Obviously working with the wider R&A team, I’m a part of rolling this out going forward as well, which is fantastic,” she added.
“We’re really taking this blueprint of Glasgow and hopefully replicating that not only across the country but across the world as well.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity for me to work for The R&A and work for Golf It! and [consider] how we can really boost participation across the world.”
“The key us for us going forward is making sure – because Golf It! has been such a success within this local community – that it is a success in any local community it’s placed in going forward.”
Pressed on how that rollout might look, the timescale for it, and whether that could be in the UK or further afield, Mckechin added: “I can’t say too much on that front, but what I can say is there’s already a lot of conversations happening with various governing bodies across the world.
“The key us for us going forward is making sure – because Golf It! has been such a success within this local community – that it is a success in any local community it’s placed in going forward.
“There absolutely will be reasoning behind putting it within certain locations throughout the world in terms of providing that opportunity for that specific area, town, city, and for people within that kind of radius to be able to get a chance to play golf.
“It is exciting at the moment. As I said, unfortunately, I can’t say too much on it but there’s already a lot of great conversations happening. And timescales? I don’t think it will be too long before we see the next one. So keep your eyes peeled.”
LISTEN TO EPISODE 9 NOW
ALSO AVAILABLE ON:
Spotify: Listen Now
Amazon Music: Listen Now
Acast: Listen now