We have 12 Clubs with the GolfMark Accreditation – including Minchinhampton New and Old with the prestigious ‘High Achiever’ award -- and now great news .... The Kendleshire has just been awarded High Achiever status also! Fourteen clubs are working towards Golf Mark with a couple about to receive their status.
Bristol Golf Centre (Hambrook Driving Range) has received its RangeMark accreditation and the RB Golf Range & Teaching Academy in Coleford is working towards theirs.
THE KENDLESHIRE ….. GOLFMARK HIGH ACHIEVER
The Kendleshire has been awarded its GolfMark accreditation – with ‘high achiever status’
A very happy, and proud, Club Secretary, Pat Murphy, had this to say:
"We are delighted to receive the high achiever award as a club. There is no doubt that there is a huge team effort involved in this. However it would not happen without a great junior committee, committed professionals and a group of boys and girls who make it all worth while because of their enthusiasm and love of the game. It must be fun for them.’’ Pat Murphy July 2010.
Junior Organiser, Gary Ward, remembered when he was a lad: “There was nothing like this available for me and no structure for juniors at all. Now, seeing all the juniors turning up to our sessions really motivates me to do more for them . The club is very proactive in supporting our juniors and they are all treated fairly as members.
And here is how some of the youngsters enjoy their golf at The Kendleshire:
Rory (9) has only been a member for a couple of months and enjoys the roll up sessions – his mum Sarah says the main reason for joining The Kendleshire was that there is so much to do for the junior members.
Will (18) has been a member for 8 years and is a member of the Junior Committee – he says the club gives so much to the junior section he is helping to give something back.
Seventeen-year-old Ed has been a member for two years and is interested in coaching. He helps the Junior Organiser on the roll-up sessions and other coaches with their festivals.
Sisters Kimberley (7) and Carys (9) have been members for about a year and both enjoy the roll up sessions – Carys recently obtained her first handicap of 35 and plays regularly on the Academy and Main Course. Dad Nick says Carys learning to play golf has boosted her confidence and the roll up sessions have brought her out of her shell.
The club has 95 juniors in the section (including seven girls) and usually between 50 and 60 of these are very active turning out to all sessions and competitions.
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Professionals Tony Mealing & Tom Gillespie, Junior Organiser Gary Ward, Partnership CDO Debbie Casling, Club Secretary Pat Murphy, Junior Committee Members, Jane Bridgeman & Will Hart
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Proud Juniors at The Kendleshire |
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GOLFMARK SURVEY SHOWS POSITIVE BENEFITS FOR ACCREDITED CLUBS
17th June 2010
For Immediate Publication
GolfMark brings positive benefit to golf clubs, according to a survey carried out by the English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA).
There are currently 333 golf clubs that have attained GolfMark and over 600 are in the process of accreditation for the EGU/EWGA scheme. GolfMark identifies and recognises junior and beginner-friendly golf facilities and incorporates Sport England’s ClubMark accreditation.
GolfMark clubs were asked to complete a survey and the results showed increased memberships, access to more funding/grants for coaching, and stronger links between clubs and schools and the community among those clubs who had achieved GolfMark. In addition, of those clubs taking part in the survey, 87% felt the GolfMark process had been beneficial (42% “very beneficial”/45% “beneficial”).
EGU and EWGA Golf Development Manager, Richard Flint, said: “We are very pleased with this feedback. GolfMark was designed to improve what clubs offer to junior and beginner golfers in line with the England Golf Partnership’s (EGP) vision to ‘Grow the Game’. We are delighted that after the hard work that those clubs have put in to achieve GolfMark, the vast majority of survey respondents believe the process has been beneficial.”
Other survey results indicated that 51% of respondents experienced an increase in membership, while 79% of clubs had created new links with schools, colleges or the wider local community. 33% felt the award had assisted in their recruitment of volunteers to help in player development.
The EGP partners have worked closely together to make progress in these areas. The EGU and EWGA are seeing results of coordinated club initiatives that welcome many new players. The Golf Foundation has transformed the culture of golf in schools working closely with PGA professionals and other EGP partners, while the PGA is helping partners to develop talent in clubs and the community with added support from more volunteers of all ages.
Some 57% of clubs believed they had enjoyed increased awareness/recognition in the local community and importantly 65% had received support from their membership whilst going through the process of accreditation.
The EGU and EWGA emphasize that their team of development officers are available to help golf clubs every step of the way with GolfMark, and 93% of respondents have maintained contact with their development officer following accreditation to continue to look for further ways to improve recruitment and retention of members.
GolfMark is open to any affiliated golf club and more information on the full range of benefits is available on the GolfMark website, www.golfmark.org.
GolfMark is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and EWGA via the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
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THE LATEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE CLUB TO GAIN ACCREDITATION IS .......
STINCHCOMBE HILL
A very proud Stinchcombe Hill sent us these words:
"Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club is delighted and proud to have been awarded GolfMark Accreditation. This has been achieved following the tremendous effort that has been put in by all concerned at the Club.
Thanks must go in the first instance to the late Don Harmer who worked tirelessly for the development of Junior Golf for many years at both club and county level prior to his untimely passing away earlier this year.
Thanks also go to the new Junior Organiser, Graham Terry, ably supported by the Junior Committee and in particular Di Valentine, Olive French, Professional Paul Bushell and many other members and parents who have helped with coaching sessions for young persons throughout the summer."
