The oldest golf club in Wales has a new title, with Tenby claiming the award as the Golf Union of Wales Club of the Year.
Tenby golf club tried, tried and tried again to become Golf Union of Wales Club of the Year – and their reward for bouncing back in a tough 12 months came at a glittering ceremony at Ryder Cup Venue Celtic Manor, sponsored by golf club membership finance company Future Financials and attended by deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism Ken Skates AM.
After suffering severe storm damage last winter, which almost wiped out the 12th tee and threatened the 11th green, a wide range of initiatives at the club saw them succeed in an extremely tough competition.
“We have been shortlisted in the past, so it is great to achieve the award this year on the back of all the efforts put in by the members, committee and staff,” said club secretary David Hancock. “It has been a lot of hard work but very worthwhile – a very tough year but now we are looking ahead.
“The storms last year were a hard time, the 12th tee was in most jeopardy of being taken by the sea and then it would have been the 11th green if it had come into the course.
“We talked with a lot of the environmental bodies to work out how to protect it and we were fortunate enough to get a tourism infrastructure grant, thanks to our AM Edwina Hart and a lot of other people, which has protected that tee and we are looking now to increase that protection for whatever lies ahead.”
That was just one reason for Tenby winning the award, presented by Future Financials marketing director Bob Sutton, beating off strong competition from Cottrell Park, Glynhir, Milford Haven and Pyle and Kenfig.
They have opened a new covered driving range and studio, expanded the schools link programme, a double figure number of new women and 40 juniors going through club schemes, further investment in the club’s accommodation, flexible membership packages, online tee booking, electronic information boards and renovated patio area.
“A lot of the things we have done are tied in with the projects, the new driving range has helped with the kids and the ladies and all the teaching programmes we have got,” said Hancock.
“When you cannot play on the course because of the weather, particularly in the winter, we have got those indoor facilities offering extra benefit for the members.
“It has helped to tie the community into the golf club. We are the oldest club in Wales, traditional, but certainly forward thinking and being part of the community is part of that thinking. We are not resting on our laurels.”
Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson was the Golf Union of Wales Touring Professional of the Year, North Wales’ Evan Griffiths the Amateur Player of the Year, Pwllheli’s Grace Roberts the Volunteer of the Year and Gower’s Nicola Stroud the Golf Development Wales PGA Professional of the Year.
Golf Union of Wales www.golfunionwales.org
Golf Development Wales www.golfdevelopmentwales.org
Tenby Golf Club www.tenbygolf.co.uk
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