A new report has outlined progress made in the efforts to make England the leading golf nation by 2020.

The England Golf Partnership (EGP) has published its three-year Impact Report, which also shows how more than £8.5m external funding has been invested into the development of the sport.

The report highlights progress made by the EGP between April 2005 and March 2008 in delivering targets set out in the partnership's Whole Sport Plan, covering a range of golf issues.

Bill Bryce, chair of the EGP, said: "The Impact Report covers the considerable progress that has been made since the Whole Sport Plan was published in the spring of 2005."

A total of 18 challenges were set out by the EGP in the plan three years ago, including the provision of a 'pathway' for talented young players, increasing participation through ideas such as 6-hole courses and the introduction of the game into the National Curriculum.

Progress identified in the EGP's report includes the formation of 26 county partnerships formed by representatives of the County Golf Union, County Ladies Golf Association and PGA towards a single development plan for respective counties, as well as a 17 per cent increase in schools offering golf as an activity.

"The EGP was formed to drive the vision of England becoming the leading golf nation by 2020, not just at the highest level, but by providing more opportunities for people to start, stay and succeed at every level," said Bryce.

The EGP consists of the English Golf Union (EGU), English Women's Golf Association (EWGA) and the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) with the help of Sport England and the Golf Foundation.