Staffordshire Golf Development – Dec 2015 Review
CDO Introduction: What a 12 months for Staffordshire golf, we have had some brilliant impact on golf participation in England through our many initiatives; Get into golf, Golf Express and Student golf. We have also worked through the IMP pilot project very closely with our clubs and facility to help and support with membership, governance and business planning. Thinking and looking forward 2016 has the potential to be even better through IMP year 2, county plan for Staffordshire golf and further Golf Express growth.
Below I have put together a review of the past 12 months of activity:
Get into golf: Through our 15 Get into golf Partners and 11 Get into golf activity centres (4 lessons from £20) we have get 5,844 people into structured golf coaching, 2,969 people into further golf coaching and 1, 392 golfing playing once a week. These figures have also impacted on membership in Staffordshire over the past 12 months with 227 golfers into affiliated membership, 418 golfers into non-affiliated membership, so a total of 645 golfers into membership in the past 12 months.
College and University Activity: We have strengthened our connection with our Universities- Staffordshire and Keele over the past 12 months with 669 students taking part in structured golf coaching, then 74 golfers moving into further coaching and 51 students playing golf once a week. 12 of these golfers have moved into membership in Staffordshire. Also both Universities have moved into competitive golf in the British University league.
Disability golf: Staffordshire were announced as a disability focus county during 2015- we have targeted 3 golf clubs/facilities who have delivered inclusive golf coaching in 2015- Stone Driving Range, Onneley Golf Club and Mark Butler Golf Academy. We have got 436 golfers into golf with many golfers continuing to play and socialise at the facilities on a weekly basis.
Golf Mark: Staffordshire have a target of 16 golf mark accredited clubs and have now 17 golf mark accredited clubs- with Leek, Westwood, Trentham, Trentham Park, Great Barr and Sandwell Park Golf Club all completing the accreditation over the last two months and are under review for accreditation by England golf.
Golf Express: Following Staffordshire been targeted by England golf as an Increasing membership and participation county (IMP) Staffordshire came up with and addressed a huge issue in golf- shorter formats of play. Staffordshire golf came up with Golf Express- promotion golf clubs to sell a 9-hole green fee, and promoting 9 holes of recreational play in golf clubs. To date we have had 4638 golfers purchase a 9-hole green fee and 430 golfers playing after work roll ups at clubs. Golf Express has also brought members into the county with 7 members joining directly from Golf Express play. We will continue and grow Golf Express in 2016.
Annual Conference: Following the success of last year’s conference Staffordshire will be holding there the 2016 conference on: Thursday 11 February 2016- at Brocton Hall Golf Club- 6:30pm start. Invitations have been sent out to all Staffordshire golf clubs- and this promotion will continue leading up to the evening.
Gareth Shaw
County Development Officer
Staffordshire Golf Partnership
Tel. 07709940891
E-mail. staffsgolfcgp@gmail.com