College lads at Royal Docks to promote sport

LAND at a former flour mill at the Royal Docks was turned into one of the World’s most unusual golf venues this week in a charity’s drive to popularise the sport among young east enders.

In the lead up to the Ryder Cup, college students played the last three holes of a nine hole event at Millennium Mill, by Royal Victoria Dock.

The first six holes were completed in early September when the students played a team made up of Citi staff in games around some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including the Olympic Stadium, Spitalfields Market, and Jubilee Park in Canary Wharf.

Thousands of other Tiger Woods wannabes across 21 cities have been part of the ‘Golf Roots’ City Project, run by leading golf charity the Golf Foundation.

It is aimed at making golf a more accessible sport for children from all backgrounds.

This ‘Back Nine’ event – created by the East London Business Alliance – was sponsored by Citi,

They used adapted equipment and golf formats and has been a hit in schools, said Brendon Pyle, National Development Officer for the Golf Foundation.”

Peter Welton, who created The Back Nine idea for ELBA, said: “Golf and the inner city streets of East London don’t seem like a natural fit. However, by taking golf onto the streets, building sites and rooftops of East London we hope to open the sport to the incredible talent of East London’s young people.”

The event is part of a wider ELBA programme known as London Legacy 2020 that is trying to help East London capture benefit from hosting the 2012 Games.”