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ACCREDITATION COMES IN THREES

 

	BRICKHAMPTON MOVES FORWARD WITH GOLFMARK Brickhampton Court Golf Complex has become the latest club in Gloucestershire to receive GolfMark accreditation, joining Broadway, Knowle, The Kendleshire , Lilley Brook and Minchinhampton New and Old Courses.   “We at Brickhampton Court Golf Club consider ourselves very fortunate to have achieved our GolfMark Award,” said club Chairman/President, Keith Coghill. “ Our Junior Organizer and Committee have worked very hard on our behalf to have this badge on our chest.   “Now we have it, we shall see how it will influence our standing in the golf community and how it will increase our membership.  Since we opened in 1995 we have always encouraged the beginner, often through junior membership.  Brickhampton has excellent all weather practice facilities and first class professionals for people of all ages when they first take up the sport.    “We have had juniors who have started playing at an extremely early age and gone on to become Junior Champions then Club Champions, which demonstrates the quality of training and facilities that we are proud to have.  GolfMark will endorse these achievements and give those looking for somewhere to start the sport, the confidence in the Complex.   “As we were only awarded the accreditation on August 1st, we are very new to GolfMark ! Now we shall move forward with greater confidence and hopefully produce even more Champions in the future!”     County Development Officer Debbie Casling  presenting the GolfMark award to Chairman,  Keith Coghill (centre) & Junior Organiser Neil Casling  March 27th 2009 Press Release from Lilley Brook GC NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR LILLY BROOK   Lilley Brook Golf Club were delighted to be awarded GolfMark after a rigorous assessment procedure extending over three months.  This award means that the club is recognised by the national golfing authorities as a junior-friendly and beginner-friendly facility.   Lilley Brook has had a junior section for many years and it currently has 100 junior members   Many of the youngsters, girls as well as boys, learn the basics of the game by attending the Junior Starter Centre which runs throughout most of the year.  The junior section of the club provides a comprehensive programme of competitions, matches and further coaching catering for all levels of ability including those with single figure handicaps.   Adults who want to try their hand at golf are also actively encouraged.  Each year the club runs FREE taster sessions for beginners, both male and female.  Clubs can be provided so all that is needed is a desire to give it a go.  The coaching for these sessions is provided by Head Professional, Simon Harrison.  This year the first taster sessions will be held on the 18th and 25th April, and anyone interested should give Simon a call on 01242-526785 and select option 2.
	KNOWLE GOLF CLUB PRESENTED WITH GOLFMARK AWARD
	On Sunday 21 December, in front of more than 100 parents and children, the Chairman of Knowle GC, David Roman, was presented with the GolfMark Award Certificate by Maurice Widdows, the President of the Gloucestershire Golf Union.   David Roman said “Meeting the national standards required a considerable degree of effort from the small team of volunteers. It highlighted to us that we were doing most things very well, particularly the child protection and coaching. Receiving this Award on behalf of the club is a great honour.”   The evening turned into a double presentation event when over 30 children, aged between 5 and 14, received their gradings for the Golf Passport Coaching Programme. Mr Widdows, this time assisted by David Roman, presented the children with their certificates and badges. In addition the following 4 juniors were picked out for special awards: Ø       Matthew Smith (5 years old) Ø       Freddie Gwyther (5 years old) Ø       Caley McGinty (8 years old) Ø       Ethan Brice (9 years old)   David Owen, Knowle’s Junior Organiser, said “We have taught over 100 children this year mainly from the south of Bristol. Most of the children attend the local Primary Schools, which are within walking distance from the golf club. Once we have their interest we make every effort to keep them interested with weekly club nights and plenty of beginners’ competitions on our 5 hole academy course”.                                                                               Maurice Widdows (L)  & David Roman
	HONOUR FOR MINCHINHAMPTON    A few weeks earlier Minchinhampton also gained GolfMark accreditation – becoming the first club in the county to receive the award with the additional High Achiever status.   Officers and members of the club, which has a long history of supporting and developing young golfers, were obviously proud and delighted when they received the award from former European Tour Professional Stuart Little and Ladies European Tour Professional Kirsty Taylor, who are both attached to Minchinhampton.   Junior Organiser, Simon Whitwham, expressed his own pride and pleasure in attaining the award.   “We are fortunate in having an exceptional Junior Committee and volunteer group who are fully supported by the Club and the Members. Our Girls’ Organiser, Sue Sturman, has a wonderful group of volunteer lady members who have been bringing on a group of girls, and again this year we have been working with the local Schools Sports Partnership to encourage even more young people to experience golf.    I have to thank the members who give up their time and use of some of the facilities and encourage all that we do, also the Professionals who contribute, and not least the Club which ensures that we receive the financial support to achieve all that we do”.   GolfMark acknowledges that, as a Club, Minchinhampton meets high standards in coaching and playing, Club Environment and Child Protection but the High achiever recognition underlines the greater lengths by which it seeks to encourage and develop its young members.  With over 100 junior members who benefit from taster groups, skills sessions, regular coaching, school holiday competitions and participation in the North Gloucestershire Junior League, the Club is committed to developing the next generation of golfers.  Every Sunday afternoon junior members, together with a number of youngsters from the Junior Academy run by resident Teaching professional, Kevin Brand, enjoy a 9-hole competition and the for the absolute beginners the Driving Range is turned into a 3-hole short course where they can receive coaching and encouragement.   Although the emphasis is on Junior development, the national accreditation scheme, ‘GolfMark’, identifies and recognises not only junior, but all beginner friendly facilities.   One of Minchinhampton’s initiatives in this wider field was to hold ladies’ taster sessions and offer three-month trial membership to those newcomers.