Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership Meeting

Wednesday 9^th December – Brickhampton Court Golf Club – 7pm

Present:                                                                                            Apologies:

Mark Powell (MP)                                                                           Jamie Woodford (JW)

Ian Watkins (IW)                                                                             James Latham (JL)

Jen May (JM)                                                                                   Linda Carruthers (LC)

Debbie Casling (DC)                                                                        Richard King (RK)

Steve Scott- Bowen (SSB)

Justyn Branton (JB)                                                                         Guest:

Ed Goodwin (EG)                                                                             Malcolm Lewis

Before the meeting commenced MP welcomed Ed Goodwin and Malcolm Lewis.

Minutes of the Meeting held: Tuesday 6^th October having been previously circulated were agreed and signed by MP.

Matters Arising: none

In the absence of JW, MP continued the meeting with the following:

Adoption of Equity Policy:  The Statement was read to the meeting and all agreed that this should be adopted by the Partnership.   IW Proposed and JM Seconded.  MP signed the document and handed over to DC for forwarding to EGU.

Volunteer Policy:  This document would need further discussion.  It was agreed DC to circulate to Partnership for comments and to bring to the next meeting.

EWGA Women & Girls Grant 2010:  Gloucestershire has been allocated £1240.00 of which 25% is to be allocated to Women.  It is also expected that only Golfmark Clubs are used.

DC and JM to set up a meeting with Marion Jackson to put together an action plan for this grant.

DC added the following information received from JW: 

Club Coaching Grant:

From 2010 to 2013 the Club Coaching Grant will be fixed at £600 per Golfmarked Club.  This will be available in 2 stages – 50% on application, the remainder on completion and will be signed off by CDO’s

Club & Coach:

It will be a requirement from the 2^nd year on of this project that only Golfmark Clubs will be used.

Active People Survey 3:

This will be available soon to view on SE Website.

Volunteer of the Year:

Applications are being invited for this and information has been sent to clubs/jo’s

County Development Officer – Debbie Casling:

Generation Games 2010:  We have been asked to support this event on 20th June at Stratford Park, Nr Bristol with Tri-Golf – Peter Dangerfield has been approached as Lead Pro and is delighted to be involved.

Para Golf 2010:  Bettridge and Belmont Schools in Cheltenham have approached me to do a programme of golf with them in 2010 and we are in the process of securing dates etc.

After having unfortunately had to cancel last weeks’ meeting I have a new meeting set up for early January with the sports disabilities co-ordinators in the south of glos to put together a programme for them.

Golfmark:  Pleased to say that clubs are warming to the idea of Golfmark and have had enquiries from Long Ashton and Chipping Sodbury have dedicated someone to organize them.

Lydney:  An extra-ordinary meeting has been called at Lydney with their owners tomorrow to decide their fate.

Equipment:  As well as the equipment The Partnership purchased at the beginning of the year and that which has been purchased by Pied Piper – I have just taken delivery of 4 sets of Ladies, 4 sets of Mens, 3 sets of Junior, 2 Tri-Golf and 1 Golf Extreme set and 8 junior stand bags.  This equipment will need to be promoted and possibly displayed at our taster sessions for use.

I had a call yesterday from Pied Piper to confirm that there is a cheque in the post for us for the net.

Women’s Update – Jen May:

The Beginner Ladies’ Autumn Away Day was held on October 16^th at Ullenwood Golf Course, with lunch at Cotswold Hills Golf Club – thanks to both clubs for their willing support of this, now regular, event. The format was unchanged: Bowmaker in teams of three with an experienced player walking with each team. 42 ladies played with the usual mixture of trepidation and hilarity! And all were, as am I, extremely grateful to the small army of volunteers who helped with the day.

The ladies pay £10 each for this event, which includes green fee, lunch and prizes. Once again it was self-financing and we ended up very slightly in credit.

At lunch I asked the players if they would be interested in a Rules & Etiquette Roadshow.  I expected half a dozen hands to go up at best – but in fact it was virtually 100% ‘yes please’!! So dates have been arranged in the south, middle and north of the county with Sue Rawles as our star performer – no-one can make rules and etiquette as much fun as Sue, who has just retired as the County Ladies handicap adviser and has long been refereeing at a high level.

Ladies from all clubs, particularly their beginners, have also been invited. The dates are January 10^th, 11 am, at Thornbury, Jan 17^th at Minchinhampton Old Course at 10.30 and January 31^st at Brickhampton at 11 am.

Plans for 2010 taster sessions are underway and are due to take place in March – I am just waiting confirmation of date and venue for the northern series. Mixed sessions will also be held in both the north and the south, again in March, but, again, I am waiting for some confirmation.

Website Update – Jen May:

A little bit of minor updating required …. But all running smoothly I think.

Junior Academy and Coach Development Update:

MP reported in the absence of PL that the Academy had successfully held its’ taster sessions and the Academy was full for the Winter Programme with 56 taking up the opportunity.  Two young lads had been approached to enter into the County Coaching programme and as well as a whole girl’s squad with Sarah Claridge there were also 2 mixed academies.  It is proposed that the programme will be run again in April inviting those who did not make the winter one.

MP/DC had received an e-mail from David Owen who was keen to set up Non-handicapped events for under 12’s as an added extra for those not on Academy/Coaching Programmes and to start encouraging these players to play new courses and events.  It will also mirror the GGG Programme but not compete with.

JB put forward to Coach Development Action Plan which would need to be completed by end of March.  MP, JB, JS & PL to action.  He would also be e-mailing out a new Questionnaire that would be sent to Professionals.

The next Professional Seminar was being organized for Thursday 4^th February with Bob Wood whose specialty is:  Enabling coaches to deliver strength, conditioning and warm exercises which are golf specific.

Venue to be advised.

Results of recent Professional Seminar held Wednesday 25^th November:

It was felt a good response and thanks to Nicky Lumb and Justyn Branton for contacting all the Gloucestershire professionals.  There were some new faces to those who had attended at the beginning of the year.

The Partnership are looking for a Representative from the North and South of the County to sit on the Steering Group and report back to their areas.  Ed Goodwin volunteered to be the North Contact and Tom Gillespie would be asked for the South contact.

In addition to this the Partnership would like to see at least 1 professional responsible to 8 clubs in 5 regions of the County in order that communications can be sent out via them.  Advise would be taken from Nicky Lumb.  MP to e-mail DC his region split used for his County activities.

Treasurer’s Report – Ian Watkins:

Accounts had been previously circulated and no queries found – GGU Levies would be entered on the last day of the year and the accounts would go to audit in January.

Golf Roots Presentation – Steve Scott-Bowen:

SSB then gave an informative presentation of the new Golf Roots Programme from now until 2013 and new funding arrangements for Community Coaches, City Projects etc.

DC and SSB to put together an Action Plan by end of March 2010.

PGA Report: No report given

Any Other Business:

ML-  asked for copies of the Initiatives and Development Plan – DC to action.

SSB-  suggested a generic programme to go to SSP’s mirroring the County Academy Programme using the skills tests with the best players gaining entry to the Academy.

JM- reminded the meeting that there was still an urgent need to find a Men’s Representative.

MP- Informed the meeting that there were several training opportunities being made available for Chairman and CDO’s by the EGU and that because of his new work commitments he was unable to attend.  If anyone else was interested in training please contact DC for information.

DC- JW is putting together a South West SPC Roadshow and will be in Gloucestershire in April – date and venue to be advised.

Date of next meeting: AGM will be held on Tuesday 19^th January 2010 – 7pm at Brickhampton Court.