Golf Foundation Awards: The big winners

The ‘heroes of junior golf’ were given their moment in the spotlight at the Golf Foundation’s Presidents’ Awards.

Every year, the awards celebrate some of the people who work or volunteer at the grass roots of the game as well as recognising the high achieving projects which encourage more young people to find their way in golf.

A glitzy ceremony at Wentworth, staged ahead of the start of the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, saw 10 gongs handed out to worthy winners.

The Golf Foundation’s new president, Sandy Jones, presented the awards, while the charity’s chairman Stephen Lewis thanked the tour and Wentworth Club for staging the event and all the Foundation’s core funders and supporters for backing the charity throughout another year.

He said: “It is a great honour to represent the Golf Foundation which works with so many people who care deeply about the game.

“We thank all the volunteers, PGA Professionals and all the golf clubs up and down the country who are inspiring the next generation of young golfers. Congratulations to all the very worthy winners of our awards and it is a privilege to hear your stories today.”

The winners were:

Sir Henry Cotton Award: David Owen

The Foundation’s most prestigious award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to junior golf over a long period of time.

David Owen became Junior Organiser of Knowle in 1999, when his daughter Sally joined as a junior member.

There are now 23 girls in the junior section, compared to 22 boys, which bucks the trend in golf clubs around the country.

Over 40 children under the age of 10 attend a Monday night academy session.

Owen set up a support fund with the help of Knowle members, which ensures that finances are not a barrier to any child playing the game at this club.

He said: “I would like to thank the Golf Foundation on behalf of all those children out there who have received support and encouragement from the charity. As you can imagine, I am totally passionate about encouraging children to take up golf.”

Gallacher Award: Judith Thornell

The prize acknowledges the work of the unsung hero, the willing volunteer who commits their time to ensure young people love playing golf.

Thornell, who became junior organiser at Oswestry in 1999, co-ordinates a Junior Friday Night that has 50-75 in attendance.

She also helps with the junior lessons for five to six hours on a Saturday and promotes golf in the local community – including a golf scheme with a girls’ football club.

Thornell said: “I’d like to thank the Golf Foundation for its support and also the many people at the club who help me, and the many families in the community who see Oswestry Golf Club as such a friendly venue.”

Laddie Lucas Award: Girls Golf Rocks in Essex

The award celebrates a project that has created more opportunities for girls with a strong link to their club.

Girls Golf Rocks in Essex saw the Golf Foundation, England Golf, Essex CGP, Essex County Girls, and Active Essex work together to encourage more beginner girls into golf.

Over 90 girls were welcomed at weekend taster sessions. From this simple start, 31 girls played in a par 3 competition, 20 girls progressed into regular club coaching and six became a club member.

PGA coaches at four golf clubs across Essex (The Rayleigh Club, Little Channels GC, Playgolf Colchester and Crowlands Heath GC) delivered the project with the support of 12 Essex County girl players who volunteered to act as role models/ambassadors based on their own experiences in golf.

Sinclair Award: Jonathan Pearson and Paul O’Donnell

The award is made each year to a leading PGA Professional.

The two friends, who work together at Cookridge Hall, in Leeds, coached 1,500 children in schools and community taster sessions in 2015.

400 entered through the gates of a golf club, 360 attended at least five weeks of coaching, and 25 new young members were created.

Eleven players under the age of 14 progressed into the Leeds and District training squad as part of Yorkshire Golf.

O’Donnell said: “We are lucky to have the support of a great team at Cookridge Hall. The owner deserves special thanks and all the volunteers who help us also, and I’d like to thank my Dad for his great support for the project from the start.”

Mackenzie Award: Alan Leason

The award is presented to a project that demonstrates how golf can be used to promote positive life messages to children and young people.

Sand Martins’ Leason used an HSBC Golf Roots Plus grant to tackle vandalism at the club by welcoming the young people involved into the club and making them ‘ambassadors’ for the venue.

He set up a Feel Inspired project, linking the club to a local Special Educational Needs (SEN) school. As a result, the club now offers a free scholarship to children with SEN.

The Feel Inspired programme has now been expanded to include nine golf clubs across three counties.

He said: “It is wonderful to be recognised in this way, a great honour for doing something I enjoy.”

Montgomerie Award: Emma Allison

The award is given to a young volunteer who has helped inspire other young people to get into golf.

The 17-year-old volunteers at weekly coaching sessions at Morpeth, alongside head professional Martyn Jobling.

She supports his outreach work in schools using Golf Foundation Tri-Golf and helps out at the local driving range during the winter months.

She said: “I really like volunteering as I was their age when I started so it’s really good to help them through the stages I have experienced. I feel like a friend as well as a coach.”

Gus Payne Award: Walton Heath

The award is presented to the club that has donated the most money to the Golf Foundation in the last year.

Members at Walton Heath clubbed together to make voluntary donations and raise an impressive £3,746. The club also won the award in 2007.

Brendon Pyle, Golf Foundation chief executive, said: “The Golf Foundation is extremely grateful to the members, committee and club officials for their support. This is a club that really understands how a great club can make a great contribution to the future of the game.”

Burroughs Award: Jordan Rosser

The award is presented to an individual who has made particular progress in golf in the face of personal challenges.

The 16-year-old has been recognised for thriving at his golf, playing with physical and learning disabilities, while as a volunteer he has also helped to make the sport more accessible for other young people in the community and at his golf club.

He has been a junior captain and vice-captain, a volunteer coach and a valued member of Golf Development Wales’s (GDW) Youth Panel.

On receiving his award, Jordan said he “really wanted to put something back into the game. It’s great for me to see a youngster picking up a club for the first time, and helping as they develop into playing regularly and competitions.”

Bonallack Award: Ross Jackson

The Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy chief has overseen some incredible results with junior membership growing by 200 per cent, competitions rising from 3 to 54 and with some 3,000 juniors having come through the doors during 2014-15.

The academy now has more than 60 junior members and Jackson’s role in junior development was further enhanced when he created a regional Talent Identification Programme for the Teesside Golf Union.

He said: “What an honour! When we started this there wasn’t much junior activity but we created a new vibe and really changed the dynamic of the club. I dedicate the award to the young people we work with and everyone who has supported us.”

Critchley Award: 3 Hammers Golf

The West Midlands-based complex, which has given more than 3,000 youngsters a pathway into the game, were recognised for their significant impact in the development of grassroots junior golf. Their formula has been recognised as a national example of good practice by England Golf, the PGA and the Golf Foundation.

Their five full-time PGA professionals and two level 1 coaches run Tri-Golf and Junior Golf Passport sessions in primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, as well as to groups across the region – such as girl guides and scouts.

Rob Bluck, 3 Hammers Golf Academy Director, said: “We are always delighted with the progress and enthusiasm of our juniors from ages 4 up to 16, with over 20 of our students having gone on to become golf professionals themselves. It’s a hugely rewarding part of what we do here at 3 Hammers and we’re delighted to be recognised with such a coveted award.”

Sports Publications, publishers of National Club Golfer, also presented a cheque for £2,000 to the Golf Foundation – the result of the company’s charitable efforts over the past 12 months.

The Foundation is Sports Publications’ official charity partner.