Nicklaus stars at Manchester muni

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Eighteen-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, popped in to Manchester’s unfashionable Heaton Park Golf Centre yesterday to provide some valuable golf coaching to youngsters from The First Tee of Manchester

Over 20 lucky youngsters from The First Tee of Manchester travelled to Heaton Park to meet the legendary Golden Bear where they received first-hand coaching from the Royal Bank of Scotland ambassador.

Nicklaus, Honorary Chairman of The First Tee, met with the children to not only provide instruction on the game of golf, but to discuss the importance of life lessons, sportsmanship, and the honourable traditions of the game that help shape the character of young people.

Afterwards, Jack signed autographs for the youngsters taking part from local schools (King David and Temple Schools) and took part in a Q&A session where the children asked him questions about his life in golf and about how they can contribute to others in the community and help serve as mentors to help other young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

Dawn Roberts, Executive Director of The First Tee, commented: “It was an honour to welcome Jack Nicklaus to Heaton Park. In 2009, the First Tee of Manchester reached over 1000 young people in this area and it is events like this one that help us to raise the profile and funds to reach even more kids this year.”

Nicklaus was greeted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester as he arrived to host a master-class as part of the First Tee’s inaugural annual charity golf tournament at the park.

The Lord Mayor said: “It was fantastic to welcome Jack to Heaton Park. I’m a huge sports fan so it was a real treat, not only for me but for everyone involved in the tournament.

“Promoting involvement in sport and its associated benefits is a major focus for my year in office, so I was particularly pleased to see so many young people enjoying themselves and learning from a real professional.”

Nicklaus, who has been a long-standing supporter of The First Tee since its inception in the U.S., is helping to establish the programme in the UK, following the launch of the Manchester chapter in June last year.

Heaton Park, with the help of the First Tee of Manchester, is hoping to get more than 1,000 young people playing golf this summer.

Heaton Park is Manchester’s leading public golf course and is one of an elite group of facilities to have been awarded Golf Mark status accreditation by the English Golf Union, to identify and recognise junior and beginner friendly facilities.

*For more information visit www.heatonpark.org.uk or www.thefirstteemanchester.org

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