The English Golf Union (EGU), English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) and the PGA are delighted to announce that England Golf has awarded the Surrey Golf Partnership £30,000 over the next three years to support the development of the sport within the county.
The Surrey Golf Partnership (SGP) was formed in November 2006 and is an alliance between the Surrey County Golf Union, Surrey County Ladies’ Golf Association and the Surrey Professional Golfers Association. Its main aim is to promote the development of golf within the county and to encourage more people from all backgrounds to take up and sustain their participation within the game.
Over the next year the SGP will receive the first £10,000 towards the implementation of its countywide development plan, which has ambitious objectives including increasing the overall number of people participating in golf in Surrey by 3% and more specifically women and girls participation by 5%.
Richard Flint, EGU/ELGA golf development manager, commented, “Surrey were one of the original pilot counties to focus on the concept of a County Golf Partnership and the EGU, ELGA and the PGA are pleased with how they have progressed to work in partnership and create a comprehensive development plan, which will help to promote the game of golf and increase people’s awareness.”
Other aims for the Partnership are to increase the number of active members at clubs, for 20% of Surrey’s clubs to achieve the nationally recognised GolfMark accreditation and to encourage clubs to operate a membership scheme specifically targeting 19 to 40 year old participants.
John Davies, SGP chairman, added, “By working in partnership, Surrey can support the development needs of golf within the county and help progress the game in all areas. The structured plan will help volunteers, coaches, administrators, golf clubs and golfers, which in turn will drive golf in Surrey to a whole new level.”
The SGP is one of 26 county partnerships that are developing throughout England. Their aim is to bring together the three main golfing organisations, the EGU, ELGA and the PGA, and utilise their combined knowledge, experience and resources to support and expand golf within a county. County Golf Partnerships are an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and are an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
More information on County Golf Partnerships can be found on the ‘For Golf Clubs’ section of the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org, and then click on ‘Info for Counties’.