A PROPERTY company has stepped in to save a young golfers’ coaching programme from closure.

The Dorset County Academy programme for boys over 14 was due to shut after a cut in funding from England Golf.

But a donation from Bournemouth property company Green Bee Homes has kept it going for at least another year.

The Dorset County Academy Programme was set up in 2009 with funding form England Golf, with the aim of coaching golfers from eight to 18 and producing the best county junior teams.

The academy has helped more than 1,000 children across Dorset and many have gone on to become PGA professionals, US university golf scholarship students and winners of competitions.

But the over-14s boys’ Future Programmes group, which coaches 20 boys, was to be cancelled because of the funding cut.

Dee Wood, county academy administrator for the academy programme, said: “Dorset is recognised as having one of the most constructive and successful county academy programmes in the country.

"After seeing first hand the amazing opportunities and support the academy has provided the children with for over 10 years, it would have been really sad to see the over-14s group end.

“Thanks to Green Bee Homes, the over-14s boys Academy Player Pathway will continue to run, alongside the under-14s group, whose funding has continued to remain in place.

“The funding pays for part of the academy coaching from highly trained golf professionals. Quite simply, without the funding, it would not be able to run, so we are very grateful to Tim of Green Bee Homes.”

Tim Addison, director of Green Bee Homes, said: “My son, Max, attends the over-14s academy with training from professional golfers. The coaching understandably had to be cancelled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then we learned that the under-14s academy was going to be cancelled altogether due to a change in funding, which was really sad news.

“I am delighted that Green Bee Homes is able to sponsor the over-14s group, enabling it to continue to run, supporting 20 of Dorset’s top emerging golfing talent.”

Green Bee Homes develops affordable green homes and converts commercial premises into residential.