East Midlands: Norwood Park wins county award

Norwood Park in Southwell is celebrating after the club won the Club of the Year award at the Nottinghamshire Sports Awards.

The club was runner-up in England Golf’s Golfmark Club of the Year category last year, but has gone one better this time out.

England Golf regional development officer Richard Brown said: “We congratulate them for this county award, which is very well deserved.

“England Golf use Norwood as a ‘Best Practice’ example of proprietary clubs who are utilising England Golf and County Golf Partnership initiatives. We have noticed all the proactive work and believe the centre could be an ideal example to promote as best practice to other golf clubs.”

Norwood Park was awarded Golfmark status in 2010, highlighting the strong commitment to junior golf and adult beginners. 

The Golf Foundation awarded GolfRoots centre accreditation and PGA coach Richard Strange won the National Presidents award last year as a result of his work developing grassroots junior golf.

‘Norwood Park is far and away one of the best clubs I have ever worked with’
County development officer Matthew Bloor said: “Norwood Park has shown to be one of the more pro-active clubs in Nottinghamshire since achieving Golfmark in 2010, with high achiever status being awarded in October 2013. The success of the club has occurred through a huge amount of hard work, but also because of a rare ability to marry a business led approach with development at the heart of everything they do, which creates a warm and friendly atmosphere at the club.

“I have worked in sports development for nearly 13 years and Norwood Park is far and away one of the best clubs I have ever worked with. They put the love of the game at the centre of all they do and in doing so have become a shining light for the region. This nomination for the second year running is very well deserved.”