The Golf Business

England Golf will launch Get into Golf Week this August—an ambitious national participation moment designed to kickstart a summer of golf and inspire more people than ever to try the game for the first time.

Running from 3–9 August 2026, the week will showcase beginner‑friendly, bookable activity at clubs, facilities and community venues across the country.

The aim is simple: to make it easier for people of all ages to pick up a club, give golf a go, and discover just how accessible the game can be.

Interest in people wanting to get into golf has surged over the past year, with over 150% more people looking at get into golf activity, with bookings up 165% compared to 2025.

This growth reflects a clear appetite for welcoming, flexible and affordable ways to get started in golf. Get into Golf Week aims to convert that demand into real participation throughout the summer.

With over 4500-plus activities and opportunities on our Get into Golf website, England Golf is galvanising its clubs and facilities to offer even more of a focus on:
- Short‑format and range‑based sessions
- Fun, social and family‑friendly experiences
- Opportunities for juniors and young people during the school holidays
- Activity delivered by clubs, facilities, community spaces and Community Golf Instructors
- Support from Junior Hubs and the Golf Foundation to strengthen the offer

The message underpinning the week is intentionally simple and inviting: Try golf this summer.

Get into Golf Week has been strategically placed to maximise impact, seeing as it follows The Open and AIG Women’s Open, capitalising on heightened public interest and sits in the peak summer holiday period, when families are actively seeking activities.

Get into Golf Week aligns with the growth of England Golf’s grassroots programmes – Get into Golf Rookies and Girls Golf Rocks.

The biggest driver of impact will be activity on the ground. England Golf is encouraging more venues to host sessions with more beginner‑friendly opportunities with support from local county bodies.

By working together with clubs, facilities, community partners and instructors, Get into Golf Week will help open the game to thousands of new players—and build a stronger, more inclusive future for golf.

Matt Draper, Development and Membership Director, said: “The growth we’ve seen across Get into Golf over the past 12 months is extraordinary, and it shows just how many people want a simple, welcoming way to try the game. Get into Golf Week is about opening our doors even wider and giving families, young people and complete beginners the confidence to take that first step. Golf is for everyone, and this week will help us prove it.

“This campaign works because it’s built around real, local opportunities. When clubs, facilities and community partners upload sessions and create beginner‑friendly experiences, people respond. Get into Golf Week gives us a national moment to shine a light on that activity and inspire thousands of new players to get involved this summer.”

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Canterbury Golf Club has paid tribute to its oldest member, Christopher Martin, with the posting of a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ commemorating his 100th birthday that has gone on display in prime position in the clubhouse.

Born on 26th March 1926, the award also celebrates the centenarian’s 52 years of membership – so far - at the Kent golf club which he joined back in 1974. He continues to play a couple of times a week and enjoys socialising afterwards in the clubhouse with this golf partners.

“Chris is quite unbelievable and he belies his age in every way, not just the fact that he continues to play golf. He is the perfect advert for the benefits of the game keeping you youthful and extending your life span. It also gives you the opportunity to regularly see lifelong friends and of course to meet new ones in the relaxed atmosphere of the clubhouse,” comments Alan Holcroft, General Manager of Canterbury Golf Club, home to a Harry C**t classic course located just outside the cathedral city.

To acknowledge Chris’s milestone birthday, the club has also awarded him honorary membership of Canterbury and to celebrate the occasion, the veteran was invited to lunch and golf on Thursday, May 21st.

Club Captain Nigel Fluet, Vice-Captain Chris Stephens and Women’s Vice Captain Elizabeth Carlotti played three holes with Chris, who is older than the club and the much celebrated David Attenborough.

For lunch he was then served with his favourite meal of fish and chips courtesy of the club after which Nigel presented him with a certificate granting him honorary membership and a letter giving him free golf whenever he chooses.

Chris said: “I really enjoyed it, but I was a bit disappointed I didn’t hit the driver properly. I only had two shots with it mind you, otherwise I was doing all right. I’ve been a member of the club for 52 years but there are several people like Richard Young who have been there a lot longer than that.”

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Bernardus, one of Europe’s most distinctive golf destinations, has unveiled the latest showpiece in its culinary offering, with Noble Kitchen taking a new name and continuing as Nami, a Japanese and South American-inspired restaurant.

Set within the wider Bernardus estate in Cromvoirt, near the historic city of ’s-Hertogenbosch, Nami reflects the destination’s continued focus on golf, gastronomy, and signature wine, combined with high-end hospitality.

Inspired by the Japanese word for “wave”, the name captures a sense of movement and progression, ideas that sit naturally within the Bernardus Experience. The kitchen continues under the leadership of Chef Tom Schoonus, who has led the culinary direction since 2019, ensuring continuity, quality, and the same high standards that have shaped the restaurant’s reputation.

The restaurant, which holds a Michelin star, now enters a new chapter with a refreshed name, redesigned interior, and more defined culinary direction, taking on a more defined Nikkei signature - combining Japanese precision with South American influences to create a unique dining experience.

The redesigned interior, created by Pieter Laureys, introduces a more intimate atmosphere, aligning the restaurant with the refined but relaxed character of Bernardus. At the same time, Bernardus Café has taken on a clearer role within the estate, offering a more international dining experience, suited to the rhythm of the day.

For Bernardus, Nami is not simply a new name, but the natural evolution of a place already central to the guest experience. Dining forms an important part of the wider Bernardus Experience, complementing its Kyle Phillips-designed championship course, extensive practice facilities, wellness offering, and intimate on-site Lodge.

Open to all through Day Memberships, Bernardus has built its identity around a more relaxed and experience-led approach to golf hospitality. Nami strengthens that positioning by giving guests another reason to extend their visit beyond the course, whether as part of a day at Bernardus or a complete stay-and-play escape.

Sabine Riezebos, General Manager of Bernardus, commented: “The Bernardus Experience has always been about creating memories, from the golf course to the food, the wine, the design, and the overnight stay. Nami represents the next step in that journey, bringing a renewed energy to our culinary offering while remaining true to the attention to detail that defines us.”

Ahead of the 2026 Solheim Cup, the first to be staged in the Netherlands, the introduction of Nami adds another layer to the Bernardus Experience, bringing together championship golf, gastronomy, wine and overnight stays in one cohesive destination.

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