The Sports Council for Wales and the governing bodies for golf in Wales have unveiled details of a series of new developments for the game in Wales.
To ensure that Welsh golf benefits from the catalyst of the Ryder Cup, a total of £640,000 is being invested by the National Assembly for Wales, the Sports Council for Wales, the Welsh Golfing Union, the Welsh Ladies Golfing Union and the Golf Foundation into the game’s development in the next twelve months.
It will be invested into:
- New national coach appointments – David Llewellyn is Wales’s first ever full-time national coach. He will be supported by Christine Langford – national women’s coach – and Maureen Madill – national girls’ coach.
- Elite Cymru funding and support
- A warm weather training programme
- More international competition
- and a major junior development programme throughout Wales
Long term plans to establish a national academy and a facility plan, including two national and six regional training centres, have also been announced.
Mr Brian Davies – former Sports Council for Wales development officer and Saracens skipper – has been appointed Welsh golf’s new development manager. His remit is to promote golf across Wales to juniors and he will be supported by two officers. Hannah Fitzpatrick – former amateur player for Wales – will be working in the south while Louise Davis – current member of the GB squad – will be based in the north.
The Sports Council for Wales à‰lite Cymru membership for 2002 was also announced. Nine professionals, four amateur men and three amateur women are receiving the comprehensive funding and support package which has successfully backed the likes of Bradley Dredge, Becky Morgan, Jamie Donaldson and Mark Pilkington in the past.
Sports Council for Wales www.sports-council-wales.co.uk
Welsh Golfing Union www.welshgolf.org