The Golf Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Regional Development Officers (RDO’s) to support the leading golf charity’s HSBC Golf Roots activity in schools, communities and golf clubs.
The Golf Foundation has enjoyed a highly productive year in reaching hundreds of thousands of youngsters through golf, providing boys and girls from many different backgrounds with the opportunity to enjoy golf and the benefits it has to offer.
The charity is now in a position to expand its team of RDO’s in England from seven to eight, allowing a slight geographical reshuffle so that all eight RDO’s will now mirror the same eight regions covered by England Golf, a change designed to create greater synergy and more opportunities to encourage young people into club golf.
Newcomers are Stacey Mitchell, 24, who will cover East Midlands & Yorkshire, and Ian Harvey, 23, who will cover the North East. Meanwhile, RDO John Wood, who represented the Golf Foundation strongly for eight years in the North East, is moving on to pursue a new role in school sport coaching at a high level.
Stacey Mitchell graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2012 with a First Class Honours degree in Physical Education, having focused her dissertation around the sociology of golf. Currently completing her Masters degree in Sport Development by Research, Stacey has already enjoyed delivering golf to youngsters using Golf Foundation Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme formats. This has been in several voluntary sports roles in both schools and clubs, including assisting her local PGA Professional in club coaching sessions for children new to golf in the area.
Ian Harvey is also a graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University (BSc in Sports Coaching). This 6-handicap golfer already has a pedigree in sports development, ranging from working in professional football clubs to encouraging youngsters in special needs primary schools. Ian’s appointment in May 2013 as County Development Officer for the Northumberland County Golf Partnership provided an experience of grass roots golf in clubs and the community which will be invaluable in his new role.
Brendon Pyle, National Development Manager for the Golf Foundation, said: “Ian and Stacey both proved outstanding candidates for these crucial roles in helping the Golf Foundation make the game more accessible to youngsters. Their early experience in sports development plus their genuine passion for the subject should be a great recipe for success, while their energy and enthusiasm will be much appreciated by the rest of the team.”
Brendon added: “John Wood leaves us after eight happy years for pastures new. John typifies the personality of a successful RDO – full of energy and new ideas, great communication skills with a variety of people, including young people and PGA Coaches, and passionate about golf and the benefits this sport offers. We will miss him!”
HSBC Golf Roots and the Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org