The recent establishment of Golf England Ltd means that phase one of the proposed national Handicapping Scheme has been realised. As the process of promoting the benefits of the scheme to the clubs and their members gets under way, the EGU has agreed that Paul Baxter, the Chief Executive/Secretary, will assume responsibility for this vital role.
Paul Baxter was intensely involved with the negotiations and the mechanics of setting up the scheme in the first place and will now devote much of his time to the completion of this undertaking.
Nigel Furniss, formerly Deputy Secretary at the EGU, has been appointed World Class Performance Manager. This role arises out the new relationship between the EGU and Sport England. Nigel, who will be working from home, is to produce a structured long term World Class Performance programme for English men’s amateur golf. One of the early benefits of his work is the achievement of grant aid from Sport England to fund both his position and an interim award for the benefit of a nominated group of à©lite players.
Craig Wagstaff has been promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary in place of Nigel Furniss and is charged with the day to day management control of the secretariat. When Paul Baxter’s commitment to Golf England diminishes, Craig’s continuing management of the secretariat will free Paul to devote time to develop the future policy and planning of the Union. Craig has been Accountant to the Union for the past three years and has a fairly comprehensive knowledge of its activities as well as a complete understanding of its financial structure.
Having already been appointed Assistant Secretary, Neil Hayward retains this position with overall reporting responsibility for the core activities of the Union. Neil has been with the EGU for more than eleven years and has acquired first hand knowledge of those activities which now fall under his jurisdiction.
The role of Golf Services Secretary passes to Neil Cockbill. Previously Secretary at Coxmoor Golf Club, Neil brings considerable knowledge of both overall leisure and golf club management to this important department.
John Walker continues to head the Championship department and is supported by James Crampton. Together they retain responsibility for championships, rules queries, SSS and handicapping and players records.
Jan Coles, former secretary to this department, has been promoted to the position of Coaching Manager following the departure of Paul Jelly who has returned to the teaching profession. Jan has taken control of the business of organising the administration associated with the coaching and management of national squads both at home and abroad.
The transfer of the Associate Membership Scheme to Golf England Ltd releases Richard Flint to become Golf Development Secretary with the remit to promote and expand the relatively new “Get into Golf” campaign. The two Junior Development Officers, Richard Brown and David Webber, will remain committed to the promotion of golf at this level whilst becoming part of the new Golf Development Department, using their skills to promote the “Free Coaching for All” and “Get into Golf ” initiatives.
Over the years the increase in numbers of EGU staff and the acquisition of Woodhall Spa with the workforce employed to manage the courses, academy, golf range, club house and conference centre have produced other managerial requirements. The Union, which is now the largest governing body in English sport, has appointed Paul Reiz as Human Resources Manager to ensure the well-being, training and proper working conditions of all its employees.
A summary of these appointments is as follows
- Chief Executive/Secretary: Paul Baxter
- Deputy Secretary: Craig Wagstaff
- Assistant Secretary: Neil Hayward
- Golf Services Secretary: Neil Cockbill
- Championship Secretary: John Walker
- Assistant Championship Sec.: James Crampton
- Coaching Manager: Jan Coles
- Golf Development Secretary: Richard Flint
- Golf Development Officers: Richard Brown and David Webber
- Human Resources Manager: Paul Reiz
- World Class Performance Manager: Nigel Furniss
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