The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) celebrated with golf’s top volunteers at the inaugural County Golf Development Conference, held at Woodhall Spa.
The game’s regional representatives, the men’s County Unions, women’s County Associations, the PGA Regions, the Golf Foundation and the County Golf Partnerships, attended the two-day conference. The event included presentations by some of the sports experts and key note speaker Dr Frank Dick OBE, in addition to the England Golf Partnership’s Volunteer of the Year Awards 2008.
The EGU/EWGA Conference gave counties the opportunity to network and gain examples of best practice, whilst learning about funding and volunteer resources that are available to support those involved in county golf development. There was also the opportunity for counties to challenge their current perceptions and think about longer term aspirations led by Frank Dick’s challenge of “If not you, who? If not now, when?”
Richard Flint, EGU/EWGA development manager commented, “This is the first time the EGU/EWGA have got all counties organisations together to solely discuss county golf development. Networking and sharing best practice is key for all involved in golf to help develop and enhance the game to new levels”.
The conference also provided the stage for the England Golf Partnership to host their first Volunteer Awards. Those winning the accolades were all recognised as making an exceptional contribution to golf development. The five winners were:
Ryan Lewis, Lancashire – Young Volunteer
June Poffley, Wiltshire – Club Development
Michael Hart, Essex – County Development
Joy Hunter, Yorkshire – Services to Golf
Joe Boyd, Isle of Man – Services to Golf
Plans are already underway to repeat the Conference in 2009 following some excellent feedback form the delegates.
Judi Walker, Suffolk said, “What a brilliant couple of days. Not withstanding the wealth of information available, the networking was invaluable.”
The County Golf Development Conference is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and EWGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
Copies of the presentations and discussion notes are available upon request from the EGU/EWGA Development Team at development@englishgolfunion.org
English Golf Union www.englishgolfunion.org
English Women’s Golf Association www.englishwomensgolf.org