Carol Alford, a non-executive director at England Golf and a mental toughness coach working with individuals and teams in business, sport and life is the new Juniors Organiser at Branston Golf & Country Club, amongst the Midlands’ leading clubs and one of only four finalists nationwide for England Golf’s Most Welcoming Club of the Year.
‘With my background in mental coaching and development I’m bringing new skills to this role and last year created an holistic approach to preparing people to playing golf. I’ve developed a plan that will take complete beginners right through to elite players to improve how they play golf. It can be used by any ability and any age, and this year we’ll be launching it with the Juniors’ said Carol, a long-standing Branston golf member whose son Tom was last year’s Juniors captain.
Branston, with its Academy and Eagle course is ideal for encouraging new golfers to the sport and is a centre of excellence for Girls Golf Rocks, Golf Sixes and Get Into Golf initiatives promoted by England Golf and the Golf Foundation. The club works with many nearby Local Authority and Public schools attracting hundreds of girls and boys each year to taster sessions.
Tom Storrar, golf manager, commenting on this new appointment, said ‘Working closely with our coaching professionals at Branston to incorporate the traditional technical coaching skills and with the Club’s gym manager to create fitness sessions Carol sees her role as Junior Organiser is to inspire and encourage the whole club to embrace junior development and lead a co-ordinated approach. Her vision is to make Branston THE club that junior golfers want to join’.
Branston Club’s Junior Golf Pathway & Passport programme, aimed at juniors of all ages and abilities, takes complete beginners on a journey to play golf. Starting with the basics right through to playing elite golf. It’s an holistic approach that takes the technical aspects of the game and incorporates mental strength, fitness and nutrition training to the complete the junior’s development.
This development plan also includes the mental aspects of playing golf, an area which is commonly overlooked and is where players struggle with their game in competition as well as nutrition.
‘We’re delighted that Carol is our new Juniors Organiser, her passion for golf and skills as a life coach are unrivalled and will be bringing an exciting new dimension to our Juniors development at Branston attracting youngsters to learn a new sport, meet friends and enjoy getting into golf once the present Corona Virus lock-down is over’ said Ben Laing, managing director at Branston Golf & Country Club.