England Golf has appointed Laura Rushby to the new post of Head of Training and Education. She will take up her role on Monday,20th October.
Laura will be responsible for an extensive training and education programme within England Golf, including a particular focus on the needs of volunteers and paid staff within golf clubs.
She will work closely with national partners to develop the new programme, which will support the England Golf Strategic Plan 2014-17. The plan, Raising Our Game, aims to strengthen and develop golf in England, creating stronger clubs and increasing participation and membership.
Laura (pictured) has a degree in sports management, is a keen golfer and brings over 13 years of experience working in the golf industry to the role.
Before joining England Golf, Laura worked at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club as the Events and Marketing Manager where she organised over 150 competitions and events annually, designed and implemented a new club website and created a new junior and women’s golf academy with the head PGA professional, to help the club achieve GolfMark status in 2013.
Laura was previously a regional manager for ClubGolf in Scotland where she worked closely with key partners, clubs and local authorities to educate teachers to deliver the schools golf programme and train golf club officials to develop junior programmes and facilities. This led to more than double the number of children and facilities taking part in golf coaching programmes in her area.
Before that Laura was a championship manager for the Ladies Golf Union, where she organised British amateur tournaments and matches and was part of the management team for the RICOH Women’s British Open.
Laura commented: “I am delighted to be joining England Golf at this exciting time. Having worked within a golf club, as well as with a number of different facilities, volunteers, PGA professionals, county and national organisations, I have seen the need for education and training and the positive difference it can make.”
Richard Flint, the England Golf Participation and Club Support Director, said: “We are delighted that Laura is joining England Golf in this important role which strengthens our support for clubs. It is essential that, working with our partners, we understand the training and education needs of the paid and volunteer workforce within clubs so that we can support them and work together to increase regular participation and membership.”
England Golf www.englandgolf.org