Golfers and clubs that have inspired others to play the game were honoured at the England Golf Awards.
Their achievements were celebrated at a gala dinner as part of the organisation’s two-day annual conference.
The winners included a man who proved that Golf’s Got Talent and attracted 5,000 girls to try the game, a club owner who has doubled his membership, and a professional who is packing lessons with learners.
A club which used their 125th anniversary to plan for the future and a 15-year-old who inspires other disabled people to play were also victors.
England Golf chief executive Nick Pink said: “Our award winners are all amazing people and it’s a great pleasure to celebrate them and everything that’s good about golf.”
The award winners were:
Innovation Award – Cae Menai Davis, The Golf Trust
Davis is the founder of The Golf Trust which promotes golf as an inclusive game in inner-city communities.
His Golf’s Got Talent project involved 5,000 girls in north and west London schools in just four months. 600 girls are now taking part in coaching away from their schools and 250 have become junior golf members.
He said: “To be recognised in this way for our Golf’s Got Talent project is testament to all the girls who took a leap in to the unknown by learning golf.” Read more
Participation Award – Jan Tallentire of Warley Park, Essex
In only two years, since she was ladies’ captain in 2014, Tallentire has given a taste of golf to 170 women and 26 have taken up membership.
She said: “For me, the pleasure has been seeing many of the lady beginners carrying on playing as a group, and enjoying the game we love so much.”
Membership Award – Alec Fernihough of Gaudet Luce, Worcestershire,
Fernilough introduced Utopian Golf at his club, a flexible membership package based on a points system but with no annual fee.
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In two years, Gaudet Luce membership has doubled to just over 800.
He said: “The way that people live their lives has changed hugely over the past few years and I believe that golf club memberships need to reflect this.” Read more
Talent Pathway Award – Daniel Parkes of The Nottinghamshire
PGA professional and academy director at The Nottinghamshire, Parkes has developed a popular Pathway to Golf scheme that fills eight junior classes and 10 adult classes each week. It has already created 26 new members.
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He said: “I am unbelievably happy with this achievement for The Nottinghamshire and as we always say, team work makes the dream work.”
Lifetime Service Award – Iain MacCaskill, of Denham
Closely involved with golf in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire for decades, MacCaskill is a huge supporter of junior golf.
He represented Scotland at boys’ and youth level and played in the Open at Royal Troon in 1962.
“I was very lucky as a boy and it spurs you to give something back to the game,” he said. “My motivation has always been to help the boys on to the talent pathway and observe them achieving their goals and objectives.”
Young Volunteer of the Year – Warren Clark of Southwark Park, Hampshire
Clark inspires new golfers as a volunteer at his club and as an ambassador for the Disabled Golf Association.
He said: “I like playing golf because it’s good for my special needs. In the past I used to be shy but now I am not, because I like talking to everyone at the golf club and also to whoever I teach.
“I love volunteering because I can help others to develop the benefits I have achieved through my golf.”
Volunteer of the Year – Paul Smith, of Marriott Breadsall Priory
Smith has devoted thousands of hours to encouraging juniors and making his club’s section one of the best in Derbyshire.
He said: “I would like to thank all our members for the magnificent support they have given to me and the junior section over the past year and this is also for them to enjoy and celebrate.”
GolfMark Club of the Year – Penrith
Penrith used their 125th anniversary as the spur to plan for the future and they have a new focus on working with disabled people as well as fresh ideas to recruit more members.
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Past captain Phil Park said: “This is a tremendous accolade for Penrith Golf Club and a special moment in the history of the club.”
Steward of the Year – Steve Warren of Eaton, Norfolk,
Warren’s desire to go the extra mile created more business for his club.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said. “This is the pinnacle of all my years in the golfing community and to be recognised by members and visitors is just wonderful.”
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