Community Safety Partnership
Fairway Forward Golf Initiative
Partnership
Strathclyde Police, Community Support Officers and Antisocial Behaviour
Team.
Group Targeted
Young people aged 14-18 years old who are involved in golf course vandalism.
Community Safety Partnership Priority
To reduce golf course vandalism by targeting the individuals responsible and enrolling them into our golf initiative.
Teaching them to respect the rules, regulations and traditions of the game of golf. By the end of the programme the young people should feel a sense of ownership of their local golf course and hopefully they will think twice about any vandalism.
Aims
To change young people’s attitude towards golf course vandalism and encourage them to take up golf as a hobby.
Approach
To deliver golfing lessons and deliver an input on antisocial behaviour in a relaxed, neutral environment.
Methodology
Use of Outdoor activities as diversionary/education measures
Agencies Involved
Strathclyde Police, Community Support Officers, Antisocial Behaviour Team, Roodlea Golf Course Professional and Dalmilling Golf Course Professional.
Evaluation
Process
Questionnaire format
Evaluation Impact
The project involves a total of 6 young people who have been identified as being involved in vandalism in Dalmilling Golf Course.
Community Support Officers, ASB Officers and Strathclyde Police forwarded the names of these young people to the Antisocial Behaviour Team.
The programme involved 6 weeks of intensive golf coaching by the golf professional at Roodlea Golf Course. On weeks seven and eight they played in a competition, which involved playing nine holes each day.
The young people were accompanied at all times by a Community Support Officer or an Antisocial Behaviour Officer.
A presentation on the impact of Antisocial Behaviour on Golf Courses was delivered by Brian Eaglesham (seconded police officer to the A.S.B. team)
Four out of six young men completed the eight- week programme, the standard of golf and behaviour improved as the weeks went on and perhaps more importantly, a bond between the young people and the C.S.O.s was formed.
The four young people who completed the programme were presented with a trophy and a season ticket.
Everyone involved with the initiative felt that it was a great success and that we should look towards repeating it in other areas.
Evaluation forms will be collected from the young people in the next few days.
Potential
This initiative has proved very successful and should be delivered to other areas and possibly a younger age group.
Contact
Bryan Jamieson, Community Safety Office (Problem Solving)
Email: Bryan.jamieson@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
