Staffordshire golf clubs are raising their game in the drive to attract new players and potential members. The county’s clubs and driving ranges are backing a national campaign launched by England Golf, which has put in place a wide-ranging strategic plan which runs until 2017.
‘Raising our Game’ includes supporting clubs as they seek to introduce newcomers to the sport through coaching for beginners and providing a positive pathway into club membership.
The work going on in Staffordshire sees the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs and the Staffordshire County Ladies Golf Association working closely with the area’s PGA professionals and England Golf’s county development officers.
The formation of the new Staffordshire Golf Development Group will now focus attention on attracting people to the sport and providing the right support for clubs.
The steering group for the new SGDG is made up of representatives from each of the organisations.
The group will also work with its partners, The Golf Foundation and Sport Across Staffordshire.
Chair is Jon Farmer, general manager of Trentham Park Golf Club, who says: “This is an exciting time for golf in Staffordshire. The three organisations have united to spearhead the move to attract more people into golf, with a view to increasing golf club membership.”
Supporting the group’s efforts will be a full-time county development officer, Ben Johnson, who will be working with Staffordshire clubs and driving ranges to encourage new people into the sport, point a way forward into potential golf club membership, and to retain existing players and members.
Gareth Shaw, North West Regional Manager for England Golf, says: “This is an exciting development and will see the new group build on the foundations laid down by the County Golf Partnership to make it even easier for people to give golf a go in Staffordshire and to enjoy the many health and social benefits the sport can bring, particularly as a member of a club.
“The golf development group in Staffordshire brings together the three organisations at county level responsible for administering the men’s and women’s amateur games and the professional game to create one voice towards developing the future of golf in the county.”
The core objectives of the group will be:
- To promote the game of golf and increase people’s awareness across Staffordshire.
- To offer support for the professionals and the clubs in finding the financial support needed, through the Staffordshire grants scheme, to grow the game at their facilities
- To attract people to the sport of golf irrespective of ability, age, gender or race.
- To assist golf clubs to increase membership and the number of people playing golf in Staffordshire.
- To facilitate links between golf clubs and the world of education to enable golf to become a core sport in schools.
- To undertake the training of volunteers and coaches.
- To ensure the continuity of standards and good practice within the golf club network.
- To work closely with both county and national partner members.
- To seek funding from available sources to finance these objectives.
Staffordshire Golf Development Group www.staffsgolfpartnership.com
England Golf www.englandgolf.org