Little Sticks Festival Brings Schools Together at Alexander Stadium
Alexander Stadium, home of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, played host to the Little Sticks Festival, where children from over 10 schools enjoyed a day of golf-inspired activities centred around teamwork, resilience, and respect.
Children enjoyed a packed schedule of activities across the day, with something for everyone to get involved in. One of the standout favourites was the inflatable chipping challenge, which proved hugely popular throughout the day. Pupils also tested themselves in the tic-tac-toe challenge, tackled a mini golf course filled with exciting obstacles, and took part in precision chipping games aimed at buckets and targets.
A special highlight for many of the children was the appearance of professional golfer Sam Horsfield, who spent time with the children, inspiring the next generation of young golfers. During a relaxed Q&A session, children had the opportunity to ask Sam questions about golf, his career, and life as a professional athlete. Pupils also enjoyed taking photos with him and having their certificates signed to take home as a lasting memory of the day.
The festival also encouraged creativity through the “Name the Bulldog” competition. Inspired by the Majesticks Golf Club bulldog logo, children were invited to create a name, personality, and set of life skills for the character. The activity gave pupils a chance to showcase their imagination while reinforcing the key values and skills developed through the Little Sticks programme.
At the heart of the Little Sticks initiative are three core life skills: resilience, teamwork, and respect. Throughout the festival, each group of children were assigned a different life skill, which became the focus of their activities and experiences during the day.
Resilience is a key part of learning golf, a sport that challenges players to keep trying, improving, and learning from setbacks. Children were encouraged to understand that developing a new skill takes patience and perseverance, especially when success does not come immediately.
Teamwork was another major focus of the festival. Although golf is often seen as an individual sport, many formats require players to work closely together, communicate effectively, and support one another. Through the activities, children explored what it means to be a positive and effective teammate.
The final life skill centred around respect; including honesty, empathy, integrity, and kindness. Golf is unique in that players are responsible for keeping their own scores and applying the rules themselves, without the presence of a referee. This emphasis on integrity helps children understand the importance of fairness, accountability, and respect for others both on and off the course.
More than just a sports event, the festival celebrated the progress and achievements made by schools delivering the programme within their PE lessons. By bringing together students, teachers, coaches, and the wider Majesticks community, the day highlighted the positive impact golf can have both inside and outside the classroom.
The atmosphere throughout the festival was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and pride as children celebrated their success alongside their peers.
Events like this continue to demonstrate the power of the Little Sticks initiative in creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and thrive through golf.
