AIG Women’s Open hosts Royal Porthcawl Golf Club has won an award from Wales Golf in the year they are about the host the biggest female sporting event ever held in Wales.
The club has been recognised with the Visit Wales Croeso Award for Tourism as they prepare to welcome the world’s top women golfers to the South Wales links course at the end of July. This accolade is designed to celebrate a golf club that offers an outstanding customer experience and helps shape Wales’ reputation as a world-class golfing destination.
They received it at the Wales Golf Awards ceremony at Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor, at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse. Other award winners included former Wales Golf President Jeff Harries, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of work refereeing and supporting Wales Golf events at home and abroad.
North Wales club Hawarden has gone from facing disaster to being named the Wales Golf Club of the Year supported by Howden, thanks to an impressive turnaround and commitment to sustainability over the last five years.
Llantrisant and Pontyclun achieved a remarkable double, winning awards for the Junior Golf Club of the Year supported by Dot Golf and Volunteer of the Year supported by Chemical Corporation for Junior Leader Gavin Evans.
Llandudno/Maesdu Golf Club added another award to their collection with the Sustainability Project of the Year supported by Citation, while Radyr PGA Professional Richard Bentham received the PGA Development Professional of the Year supported by Toptracer.
Two players who have graduated onto the professional tours, James Ashfield and Darcey Harry, claimed the PING Golfer of the Year awards, while former professional Neil Roderick claimed the men’s senior PING Men’s Senior Player of the Year. Ann Lewis earned the PING Women’s Senior Player of the Year award for the second year running.
Wales Golf Chief Executive Hannah McAllister said: “Congratulations to all the winners, once again it took a very high standard to receive one of these awards with plenty of very tight competition. I would also like to thank our sponsors for supporting golf in Wales and these awards in particular. From dedicated volunteers and rising stars to remarkable clubs, counties, and those with a lifetime of service, these awards showcase what makes our sport so special. This event is a chance to recognise those who have gone above and beyond, whether through their extraordinary achievements or their unwavering dedication to growing and inspiring the Welsh golfing community.”
He added: “This is a very exciting year for golf in Wales as we prepare to host the AIG Women’s Open for the first time. All the world’s top players will be here in the summer and we hope to use that to give women and girls golf a massive boost. We have a £1 million legacy fund from Welsh Government to boost facilities and programmes around Wales, which will make a long-term impact – just as happened after Wales hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.”
