Wednesday 13 April 2016 16:32, UK
The chief executive of England Golf is hoping the success of new Masters champion Danny Willett will help inspire more people to take up the game.
Nick Pink, who took over at the helm earlier this year, told Sky Sports News HQ that the 28-year-old's victory at Augusta National may help to change the perception that golf is "stuffy and old fashioned" and not a game for the masses.
Pink made reference to the way Willett, Britain's first Green Jacket wearer for 20 years, used modern social media during his hour of triumph.
He also mentioned England Golf's Get into golf initiative which is launched in conjunction with Sky Sports in the hope of increasing participation in the game.
England Golf's three-year partnership with Sky Sports hopes to bring 500,000 new, or lapsed, golfers into the sport by the end of 2018.
Pink said: "It is a tremendous opportunity for us to maximise the reach of Danny Willett's great victory, and we need to hang on the coat tails of that Green Jacket and start to inspire the next generation
"With five Englishmen in the top 10, we want to get more people participating in our great sport.
"We launched on Tuesday in partnership with Sky - as our media partner - and the Get into Golf programme which has been running for just over a year.
"It's all about increasing player and coaching opportunities for those at grassroots level to participate in golf.
"We've seen a drop in numbers over the last 10 years but that has started to stabilise over the last year to 18 months.
"There is a stereotype about the game and we hope by having Sky as a media partner will help change that.
"But you saw Danny on Sunday, interacting on Skype and Twitter, and the interest we've had since Sunday has all come through social media helped by Danny and his brother.
"His brother took to Twitter and social media also, and got a lot of profile in recent days.
"There is also our Golf Express in Staffordshire, a pilot scheme, which is getting people playing alternative formats, nine holes, 12 holes, at lunchtime, after work, and that has been successful.
"We're running a lot of girls' initiatives, to encourage girls and young women into the sport.
"Sport England has done the same and there are a lot of clubs up and down the country trying to engage new people and change the perception of golf."
Visit www.getintogolf.org for more information.
