News from Staffordshire Golf

Wednesday 26th October 2016

Golf tournament hailed a success

A unique golf programme set up to help disabled people access the sport has been hailed a success.

The Beacon Centre, the Black Country’s leading sight loss charity, teamed up with the Mark Butler Golf Academy to launch the pan disability golf programme.

The two organisations have been working together for more than two years to help those living with sight loss to try golf.

After three successful introduction to golf courses the charity and the golf academy, working closely with England Golf, wrote a golf programme to work with the visually impaired as well as other disabilities.

A total of 24 players from the Black Country, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire took part in the programme which culminated in the BeaconButler Challenge Cup, which was based around the Ryder Cup format with players split into Europe and America teams. It finished in a draw with both teams scoring 93 points.

Beaconpost
The PGA professionals involved in the BeaconButler Challenge Cup (left to right) Adam Robinson (Mark Butler Academy), Mark Butler (Mark Butler Academy), Russell Adams (Gaudet Luce GC) and Robert Laing (Bromsgrove Golf Centre) along with participants and supporters of the new event. CREDIT: AT Golf Photos

As well as the Beacon Centre, a number of other charitable organisations were represented in the programme including Wings, High Flyers, Langstones, Headway and Cambian.

The Beacon Centre and the Mark Butler Golf Academy, which can be found in Sedgley, raised almost £9,000 through grants, donations, sponsorship and fundraising to host the programme, which has also enabled the BeaconButler Challenge Cup 2017 campaign to start.

The charity’s Innovations Development and Funding Officer, Annamarie Balram, said: “Our golf programme has been a huge success enabling participants to socially engage with others as well as improve their health and well-being and giving them access to a sport that may have been deemed inaccessible in the past.

“The programme has built confidence and independence with many of the participants becoming members of the golf academy.

“I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the event and particularly those organisations and individuals who were able to support us financially including the Disability Sports Foundation, PB Dumbell Charitable Trust, S Bloch Charitable Trust, Worcstershire and Herefordshire Ladies Golf Association; the Golf Foundation; Matt Wright; John Clarke from SocialTelecoms CIC, Gill Dean and Paul Hughes.

“I would also like to pay special thanks to the coaches and golf professionals, Mark Butler, Adam Robinson of the Mark Butler Golf Academy; Robert Laing from the Bromsgrove Golf Centre; Russell Adams from Gaudet Luce Golf Club and Mark Laing the Worcstershire and Herefordshire County Development Officer for England Golf and all the players on both teams for their commitment. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with you all.”

Jamie Blair, England Golf Disability Manager, says: “It is great to see the strength of partnership between the Beacon Centre and their local facility at the Mark Butler Academy. The event has not only provided a target for many of the golfers involved but also raised awareness of what can be possible for disabled people, regardless of their disability.

“The friendly rivalry between the counties involved also created a great social side before, during and after the event with golf, as always, offering the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.”


 

Staffordshire club hits the mark with national golf award

Sandwell Park Golf Club in Staffordshire, which is backing the drive to grow the game, has won a national award.

GolfmarkSandwell, an 18-hole parkland course designed by renowned golf architect Harry S Colt and dating back to 1897, has achieved the GolfMark award from England Golf.

GolfMark is an official seal of approval for clubs which successfully work to develop the game in four ways:

  • By attracting new members and encouraging existing members to play more.
  • Using practical business planning to develop the club.
  • Offering coaching and playing opportunities for all golfers.
  • Ensuring safeguarding policies are in place.

The picturesque course can be found close to Junction 1 of the M5, three miles from Birmingham City Centre and close to The Hawthorns, home of Premier League club West Bromwich Albion. It is based on the edge of Sandwell Valley, green belt land in the heart of the West Midlands.

The club – based on Birmingham Road, West Bromwich – prides itself on being a part of its local community.

The award was presented by Ben Johnson, County Development Officer for the Staffordshire Golf Development Group, which works to grow the game.

Staffordshire club hits the mark with national golf award
Sandwell Park Golf Club receives its GolfMark award (left to right) Daniel Lowe (Head Professional), John Holden (Match & Handicap Chairman), Ray Vigrass (Chairman of the Board), Ben Johnson (Staffordshire Golf Development Group County Development Officer) and Peter Cole (GolfMark Director)

He says: “Sandwell Park are to be congratulated on their proactive approach to achieving GolfMark and encouraging the next generation of players into the sport.

“The club has a long and proud tradition, but is clearly focussed on developing a successful future and helping more people into the sport.”

On receiving GolfMark, Chairman of the Board Ray Vigrass said: “GolfMark raises the standard of the club and sets us aside from other courses in the region. We have big plans for the future of Sandwell Park and GolfMark fits within that plan. It allows us to establish ourselves as a flagship venue and positions us as a sustainable golf club for the future of the game.”

In addition, Sandwell Park GC has been recognised as an England Golf Championship venue after hosting the English Men’s County Finals in September.

The GolfMark award was developed by England Golf and also integrates Sport England’s Clubmark award – a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.

GolfMark brings a number of benefits to clubs including raising awareness, access to funding, business and marketing support and training opportunities for staff and volunteers.

Almost 40 per cent of GolfMark clubs have increased membership since receiving the award. To find out more about GolfMark visit www.golfmark.org

 


New group driving Get into golf growth in Staffordshire

Staffordshire golf clubs are raising their game in the drive to attract new players and potential members.

The county’s clubs and driving ranges are backing a national campaign launched by England Golf, which has put in place a wide-ranging strategic plan which runs until 2017.

‘Raising our Game’ includes supporting clubs as they seek to introduce newcomers to the sport through coaching for beginners and providing a positive pathway into club membership.

The work going on in Staffordshire sees the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs and the Staffordshire County Ladies Golf Association working closely with the area’s PGA professionals and England Golf’s county development officers.

The formation of the new Staffordshire Golf Development Group will now focus attention on attracting people to the sport and providing the right support for clubs.

The steering group for the new SGDG is made up of representatives from each of the organisations.

The group will also work with its partners, The Golf Foundation and Sport Across Staffordshire.

Chair is Jon Farmer, general manager of Trentham Park Golf Club, who says: “This is an exciting time for golf in Staffordshire. The three organisations have united to spearhead the move to attract more people into golf, with a view to increasing golf club membership.”

Staffordshire Group
The new Staffordshire Golf Development Group includes (left to right) Jane Kracke (Sport Across Staffordshire), Ben Johnson (Staffs County Development Officer), Penny Small (Staffs Association secretary), Val Mason (Staffs Association president), Paul Holloway (GDG treasurer), Malcolm Eustace (Staffs Union secretary), and John Cheetham (3 Hammers Golf Complex and PGA representative).

Supporting the group’s efforts will be a full-time county development officer, Ben Johnson, who will be working with Staffordshire clubs and driving ranges to encourage new people into the sport, point a way forward into potential golf club membership, and to retain existing players and members.

Gareth Shaw, North West Regional Manager for England Golf, says: “This is an exciting development and will see the new group build on the foundations laid down by the County Golf Partnership to make it even easier for people to give golf a go in Staffordshire and to enjoy the many health and social benefits the sport can bring, particularly as a member of a club.

“The golf development group in Staffordshire brings together the three organisations at county level responsible for administering the men’s and women’s amateur games and the professional game to create one voice towards developing the future of golf in the county.”

The core objectives of the group will be:

  • To promote the game of golf and increase people’s awareness across Staffordshire.
  • To offer support for the professionals and the clubs in finding the financial support needed, through the Staffordshire grants scheme, to grow the game at their facilities
  • To attract people to the sport of golf irrespective of ability, age, gender or race.
  • To assist golf clubs to increase membership and the number of people playing golf in Staffordshire.
  • To facilitate links between golf clubs and the world of education to enable golf to become a core sport in schools.
  • To undertake the training of volunteers and coaches.
  • To ensure the continuity of standards and good practice within the golf club network.
  • To work closely with both county and national partner members.
  • To seek funding from available sources to finance these objectives.

 

Golf ExpressGolf Express – read what’s been going on in the review


New England U16 regional squad players are named

golf flag
Image copyright Leaderboard Photography

Talented young players have been selected for the England Golf U16 regional squads for the 2016/17 training programme.

They follow in the footsteps of players such as Masters champion Danny Willett and the world number two amateur Bronte Law, who both came through the England regional squad system.

Altogether 130 players have been selected for the U16 squads.

The East Midlands squads are:

Girls: Emily Dunne (Park Hill, Leicestershire), Jade Guest (Gog Magog, Cambs & Hunts), Charlotte Hazelwood (Notts Ladies’, Nottinghamshire), Ella Mason (Ely City, Cambs & Hunts), Kirsten Thorpe (Park Hill, Leicestershire). Coach John Mellor, Manager Robert Heathcote

Boys: Ben Allen (Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire), Oscar Bartram (Notts, Nottinghamshire), Matthew Freeman (Worksop, Nottinghamshire), Hugo Kedzlie (Spalding, Lincolnshire), William Saville (Holme Hall, Lincolnshire), Luis Witherall (Cherwell Edge, Nottinghamshire). Coach Lysa Jones, Manager Robert Kedzlie

The West Midlands squads are:

Girls: Constance Brooks (Gaudet Luce, Worcestershire & Herefordshire), Megan Evans (Gaudet Luce, Worcestershire & Herefordshire), Hannah Golding (Brocton Hall, Staffordshire), Morgan Thomas (Beau Desert, Staffordshire). Coach Sam Johnston, Manager Phil Chance.

Boys: James Bailey (Branston, Staffordshire), Harry Fearn (Trentham, Staffordshire), Daniel Heaslip (Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire), Samuel Potter (Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire), Morgan Radziejowski (Herefordshire, Shropshire & Herefordshire), Brandon Sarfo (Gaudet Luce, Worcestershire). Coach David Brooks, Manager Dean Guy.