Rebecca Hutchinson’s genuine love of the game and how she uses her passion for golf to help others has earned her England Golf’s ‘Hero’s Handshake’ award for November.
The award is presented by the Young Ambassadors and supported by England Golf and the Golf Foundation. Its aim is to recognise outstanding work in the field of promoting junior golf.
The 21-year-old has become a well-known face around Bishop Auckland Golf Club thanks to the time and energy spent helping to grow the club’s junior section. As an ambassador for the Girls Golf Rocks programme – an initiative primarily designed to help beginner girls aged 7-14 sample the game – Hutchinson has played a crucial role in helping junior girls find their feet.
Hutchinson has also been a force in junior team matches as a player and latterly a supporter, and has also represented the ideas of young people at the club on committee where her enthusiasm and ideas have been welcomed by all.
After receiving her award from England Golf’s Neil Burke, Hutchinson commented: “I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me and played a supporting role in everything I do at the club.I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
“I enjoy volunteering on the committee to give something back to the club and I intend to keep going to make sure that the junior section, and the club as a whole, is a friendly place where people are happy to spend time.”
Hutchinson was nominated for the award by fellow Bishop Auckland member Sue Wright who doubles as a junior mentor at the Durham club.
Wright was full of praise for Hutchinson’s efforts in driving participation and enjoyment for younger members of their golfing community since joining the club in 2017.
“Rebecca’s love of golf and her amiable personality are highly valued and appreciated at our club by all involved with the junior section and most recently acknowledged through her assistance with Girls Golf Rocks,” commented Wright. “She always provides a welcoming smile and has the ability to make members of the GGR group feel valued and able to achieve and improve in each coaching session. A warm welcome is waiting as Rebecca joins our ladies’ section to further develop her own game and help others.”