The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) recently held five regional Workshop Conferences across England to assist golf clubs in their efforts to achieve GolfMark accreditation.
The conferences, which took place in Exeter, Dartford, Oxford, St Helens and the EGU headquarters at Woodhall Spa, provided a day of individual workshops for golf club staff and volunteers. The workshops included A Club for All, Equity in your Coaching and Safeguarding & Protecting Children, all of which are significant measures for those clubs that are working towards GolfMark recognition.
The workshops provided delegates with an ideal opportunity to review their current methods, policies and structures and, if appropriate, evaluate any changes or improvements that needed to be made. Feedback received from the workshops also showed that another important outcome was that golf clubs appreciated the opportunity to share best practice and ideas.
For a club to successfully achieve GolfMark, representatives from the club must attend specific educational workshops on child protection and equity to confirm their development work credentials. For those clubs who do apply for GolfMark accreditation, the EGU and ELGA do provide some funding towards this training.
The EGU/ELGA expect that as a result of the regional conferences and more clubs having completed the necessary instruction there will be an increase in golf clubs receiving GolfMark accreditation.
More information on the topics covered in the workshops can be found on the following websites:
A Club for All – www.runningsports.org
Equity in your Coaching – www.sportscoachuk.org
Safeguarding & Protecting Children – www.sportscoachuk.org
Safeguarding & Protecting Children (golf specific) – www.childreningolf.org
The GolfMark award is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
For more details on the GolfMark Award visit www.golfmark.org
GolfMark Award www.golfmark.org