The English Golf Union (EGU), English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) and the PGA are joining with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire (BB&O) Golf Partnership to celebrate its successful first twelve months.
Since the Partnership was launched, bringing together the men’s County Union, three ladies’ County Associations and the County PGA, it has made some notable achievements. These include the formation of a countywide development plan which has resulted in additional finance for the training of volunteers to PGA level 1 coaching and the setting up of school club links.
These successes have been recognised and their work to promote the game is being backed by the additional funding of £10,000 from England Golf for its second year.
Gordon Jones, chairman of the BB&O Golf Partnership commented, “I am really encouraged by the progress we have made in our first year. Golf development is now firmly on club agendas in Berks, Bucks and Oxon, encouraging more people into the game.”
The Partnership has overseen a dramatic increase in the take-up of grants administered by the EGU and ELGA on behalf of England Golf. The number of clubs in BB&O receiving funds to offer free golf coaching has increased by 220% over 2006. This equates to £8,000 of investment for this initiative and for junior golf coaching grants.
More women and girls are joining clubs and the Partnership is measuring the changes to overall club membership as its work takes effect.
The BB&O Partnership has also launched its own website, www.bbogolfpartnership.com, sends regular e-mail newsletters to golfers and clubs, arranged child protection training for over 110 volunteers, has 22 golf clubs already registered for GolfMark accreditation (with 5 having received the award), held a development conference held at Bisham Abbey and recruited a County Development Officer.
Nationally, the number of County Golf Partnerships continues to grow, with nine Partnerships now in place, four in development and twelve at the initial discussion stage.
For further information and to read what achievements counties have had to date please visit www.englishgolfunion.org and click on ‘About Us’ and ‘Info for Counties’.
County Golf Partnerships is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU, ELGA and the PGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.