Little Sticks Festival Brings Together 130 Young People for a Day of Golf, Learning and Inspiration
The Little Sticks Festival welcomed 130 young people from nine schools across the South of England for a memorable day of golf, learning and personal development at Good Time Golfin' in Hounslow. With some schools travelling from as far as Norfolk, the event showcased the growing reach of the Little Sticks programme and its commitment to developing life skills through golf.
Designed to build confidence, resilience, teamwork and respect, the festival gave children the opportunity to take part in a range of fun and engaging activities. Throughout the day, participants tested their skills in an inflatable chipping challenge, a golf tournament, the popular Space Invaders putting challenge, Adventure Golf and a Name the Bulldog competition.
As well as enjoying the activities, the children were delighted to spend the day with Little Sticks Ambassador Ian Poulter. Ian visited each school group, spoke with the children, signed autographs, posed for photographs and shared his experiences of the game, creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
The event was further supported by Hannah Bowen, who played an integral role throughout the day and hosted an engaging Q&A session with Ian. The session gave the children the opportunity to ask questions, gain insight into Ian's career and hear first-hand about the values that have helped him succeed both on and off the golf course.
One of the highlights of the festival was recognising the achievements of individuals within the Little Sticks programme. Malakai, one of our Little Sticks golfers, was surprised with a brand-new set of golf clubs, generously donated by Scottsdale Golf, in recognition of his dedication, commitment and enthusiasm for the programme. His reaction was a wonderful reminder of the positive impact that opportunities like these can have on young people.
Another special moment saw one of our Little Sticks Young Leaders receive a signed Ian Poulter polo shirt following a surprise one-to-one session with Ian. The presentation recognised her outstanding commitment to establishing and running a lunchtime golf club at her school, demonstrating the leadership and enthusiasm that Little Sticks aims to inspire in every participant.
The success of the festival would not have been possible without the support of our host venue, Good Time Golfin', along with our schools, volunteers, coaches and partners. Together, they helped create a day that celebrated not only golf, but the confidence, friendships and life skills that the game can help develop.
The Little Sticks Festival continues to demonstrate the power of golf to inspire young people, create meaningful opportunities and make a lasting difference in communities across the country.
