The England Golf Partnership (EGP) is to celebrate the growing network of golf volunteers whose passion inspires others to take up and enjoy the sport.
Nominations are being invited now in order to honour a range of volunteers with awards during the 2011 County Golf Development Conference at the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire (22-23 February, 2011). The closing date for nominations is 17 December 2010 and the easy-to-follow nomination form is found at www.golfvolunteers.org.
Seven different volunteer categories are available. The winners will be chosen as representative of the body of volunteers who contribute within golf clubs, schools, county golf partnerships, training schemes and many other programmes. Award categories take in age groups (including Under 18), volunteer coaching, those involved in club and county development and lifetime achievers.
Phillip Beard, Volunteer Manager for the England Golf Partnership, said: “As the partners of the EGP develop the sport in this country we are indebted to volunteers who are prepared through sheer enthusiasm to put in the hours needed to make a real difference.
“Our golfers would not develop and thrive without these people. To grow the game we need support and we have been following a recruitment strategy which recognises that all of us have the capacity to volunteer, whatever our age. We are enjoying particular success in reaching out to young volunteers, teenagers who can be great mentors to younger boys and girls who are new to golf.”
In its objective to ‘Grow the Game’, the EGP has expanded its volunteer base through a dedicated national strategy. Traditional club volunteers have now been joined by many young leaders, as well as volunteer coaches, PGA professionals who combine volunteer work with their regular coaching, schoolteachers and community sports representatives who all gain satisfaction from helping golfers of all abilities to play golf in our clubs and communities.
All of these people can be put forward and those interested in nominating a champion volunteer can do so through www.golfvolunteers.org
The national volunteering programme is delivered via the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of the England Golf Partnership’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
English Golf Union Ltd. www.englishgolfunion.org
English Women’s Golf Association www.englishwomensgolf.org