National provision for Golf

The national governing body, is the English Golf Union They have developed a number of initiatives to support young golfers to become elite players. They are:

·  A network of ‘County Golf Partnerships’ (CGPs) within the County Sports Partnerships.

·  A coaching strategy, where the best coaches are drafted in to the CGP’s to coach young golfers.

·  Increase the number of qualified coaches working with young players within their own clubs and improve the quality through coach education.

·  Create a National Volunteer Manager position to use volunteers throughout the nation, and enable them to work closely with professionals. See appendix 1a

REFERENCE EGU WEBSITE

School pathway

Teachers run after School clubs and teams for local schools competition, for example at The Cornwallis academy we enter the Maidstone district and the Kent schools as a team. Players of note are selected for county training and competitions. The English schools golf association, founded in 1972 are instrumental in the school pathway. They are responsible for schools competitions throughout the country, local, county, national and international. Paul Cannons is the junior team manager in Kent. Most work on a voluntary basis. [see appendix 1b]. They are run by an executive and supported by County associations. They are sponsored by the NASUWT [see appendix 2]. They have been responsible for producing a number of elite players, with support from the EGU. [see appendix 3].

REFERENCE ESGA WEBSITE

Club pathway

After taster sessions you join a club. The better players reduce their handicap by playing in club and league competitions. For example an ex pupil at The Cornwallis academy, Jack Clarke joined Bearsted golf club, played in the Kent league for Bearsted and entered various Junior Opens across the region. He was then invited to attend a Kent Golf Partnership Talent Day and selected for the county elite coaching Programme. He is now an assistant pro at Bearsted working his way towards full PGA professional status. However he could have continued by representing the county. From there he could be spotted by national selectors and represent his country. Thenational junior squads [u16, u18, u21] have regular training sessions through the winter at the English Golf Union's headquarters at Woodhall. The most successful players will play other countries and enter the World Boys’ Championship June 18th - 21st 2009. After that they can turn professional and play in mini tours / challenge tours where they can gain a European tour card. The PGA are responsible for the interest of players who achieve professional status. Alternatively some players choose to take advantage of a US college golf scholarship. An example is Alex Swaisbury from Maidstone who chose this option.

Female provision
The route is the same for girls. However, less girls play, therefore girls are selected for county coaching with a higher handicap. In Kent, there is no female junior league because of lack of numbers. However they are able to play in the boys league, a few do so. The English women’s golf association look after the interests of girls golf. They hold national championships for girls under 13 and 15. The senior girls teams are selected to represent England in events. England training is given priority and over 100 players are involved in the world class programme which is funded by a grant from Sport England. The English girls Championships were held at Kings Norton this year. The English women’s golf association is also responsible for several other handicap events and also provide and fund a programme for girls between 7and 17. It is a five level progressive learning system, catering for the full spectrum of skill development. The LPGA are responsible for women who achieve professional status. See Appendix 6.

REFERENCE The English women’s golf association

Coaching

Coaching is controlled through the PGA. To become a professional coach is extremely demanding. There are five levels that can be achieved from level 1, where coaches can assist more qualified coaches, delivering aspects of coaching sessions, normally under direct supervision to Level 5 – where coaches can generate, direct and manage the implementation of cutting edge coaching solutions and programme’s. [see aapendix 4]

REFERENCE PGA WEBSITE

The assistant professional at tudor park is undertaking his qualifications at Birmingham University.

[see appendix 5 for entry qualifications]

Disability

The Kent Golf Partnership ran a 'Feel Inspired' project. £1000 was made available to 4 clubs in East Kent who all ran sessions specifically for mentally or physically disabled people. A coach from each centre attended a Disability Coaching workshop and a Mencap Sports Day. The most talented golfers were put in contact with the relevant disabled associations and offered further development.

The EBGA [English blind golf association] provide visually handicapped people golfing lessons from professional golfers. In addition each year the organisation invites all members to attend a training weekend, supported by PGA professionals. Last year it was held at Woodlands Manor Golf Club, at Otford Kent.

Referencewww.blindgolf.co.uk

The handigolf foundation promotes golf for people who are often in wheelchairs by providing them with hire of electric buggies where they can play all shots from. They give access to full-size golf courses that allow buggies on to tees, fairways and greens.

The disabled British open was held at old thorns golf club, August 2009, it was open to amputees, special needs, blind and wheel chair users.

Reference www.handigolf.net

Other agencies

The Middlesex county golf partnership are a consortium of 11 counties, including Kent. Their initiative is to concentrate on the individual golfer and provide an individual pathway for any developing golfer within the 11 counties. The British golf industry Association, they raise money for the golf foundation, £18,000 in 2007, Crown golf, Europe’s largest golf course operator also raised £14,000. and The pro-am tours raised £18,500 in 2009. Children in Golf (CIG) protect children in golf by setting up a vetting and barring scheme. See appendix 8. Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme – TASS, this scheme makes funding available for elite junior golfers.

Conclusion

Provision for golf is excellent in England, it is well funded and coaching and talent identification is provided at all levels for all genders and disabilities. There are competitions at all levels through to world Championships.

1048 words

Band top 13 - 15

Bibliography

www.englishgolfunion.org

www.LPGA.com

www.wgftgb.com

www.PGAtour.com

www.handigolf.net

www.blindgolf.co.uk

www.englishladiesgolf.org

www.middlesexgolfpartnership.co.uk

ENGLISH SCHOOLS GOLF ASSOCIATION

Gary Bason, PGA Professional Kent Golf Development Co-ordinator

APPENDIX 1a

Volunteers have a vital role to play in sport in this country, the contribution made by volunteers to sport each year is estimated to be worth around £1.5 billion. Central Government has now recognised the need to help sport develop its volunteers from grass roots to national level. The England Golf Partnership has also identified that the workdone bygolf volunteers within our game means that the sport would not exist in its present format without the hard work that the estimated 40,000 volunteers do each year. That is why a volunteer strategy has been developed, to recognise and support these people and to help us recruit more. This willensure that the sport continues to grow.

APPENDIX 1b

Fixtures

Date / Venue / Competition
28th May 2010 / Ingon Manor G&CC Warwickshire / Midlands Schoools Championships
1st June 2010 / Eaton Golf Club Norfolk / SE England Schls Championship
2nd June 2010 / Tewkesbury Park GC Gloucs / SW England Schls Championhip
2nd June 2010 / Maidenhead GC Berks / S England Schls Championship
4th June 2010 / Whitley Bay GC Northberlnd / North England Schls Championship
21st June 2010 / John OGaunt GC Beds / National Championship
7th July 2010 / Came Down GC Dorset / National Schls Team Championship
19th July 2010 / Delamere Forrest GC Cheshire / National U16s Championships
13th Sept 2010 / Fairhaven GC Lancs / International England v Scotland
13th Nov 2010 / NASUWT Headquarters, Rednal / AGM

APPENDIX 2

Executive

Position / Name / Telephone No. / Email
Chairman / Terry Haggerty / 01529306240 / p.haggerty@penny-far
Hon Secretary / Margo Horsburgh / 01359221281 / dandmhorsburgh@talkt
President / David Horsburgh / 01359221281 / dandmhorsburgh@talkt
ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ MEMBER COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS 2009

AVON

/

DORSET

Eric Millard / Rob Woolner
35 Gathorne Crescent / 7 Parkview Court, 4 Beechwood Avenue
Yate / Boscombe Manor
Bristol, BS37 5EN / Bournemouth, BH5 1LX
Tel No: 01454 853553 / Tel No: 01202 395103 Mobile 07841705462
Email: /

Email:

BEDFORDSHIRE

/

DURHAM & CLEVELAND

Paul Johnson / Ron Snell
8 Thomas Street / 20 Dykenook Close, Whickham
Heath & Reach / Newcastle upon Tyne
Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0AN / NE16 5TD
Tel No: 01525 237529 / Tel No: 01914 883538
Email: /

Email:

BERKSHIRE

/

ESSEX

John Quinby / Mrs June Morgan
4 Barn Close / Wodi
Maidenhead / Albert Road
SL6 7HD / Bulphan
Tel No: 01628 629514 / Essex, RM14 3SB
Email: / Tel No: 01375 891769

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

/ Email:
Ted Weston / GLOUCESTERSHIRE
“Woodfield” / Neil Jones
Chesham Road / Hartpury College, Hartpury House
Bellingdon / Hartpury
Chesham, HP5 2XL / Glos, GL19 3BE
Tel No: 01494 783260 / Tel No: 01452 700283
Email: /

Email:

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

/

HAMPSHIRE

No Schools’ Association / Frank Hayward

CHESHIRE

/ 162 Dale Valley Road
Allan Boswell / Southampton
36 Chedlee Drive / SO16 6QW
Cheadle Hume / Tel No: 02380 781152
Stockport, SK8 6SB /

Email:

Tel No: 01614 869838 /

HEREFORDSHIRE

Email: /

No Schools’ Association

CORNWALL /

HERTFORDSHIRE

No Schools’ Association / Bob Bage
CUMBRIA / 36 Biggleswade Road
Neil Tippins / Potton, SG19 2LX
44 Park Drive / Tel No: 01767 260453
Barrow-in-Furness, LA13 9BB /

Email:

Tel No: 01229 828136 /

KENT

Email: / Richard Young

DEVON

/ 1 Nunnery Fields
No Schools’ Association / Canterbury

DERBYSHIRE

/ Kent, CT1 3JN
John Barker / Tel No: 01227 769584
243 Lockoford Lane / Email:
Tapton /

LANCASHIRE

Chesterfield, S41 0TG / Jan Kenwright
Tel No: 01246 205200 / 37 Shetland Close

Email:

/ Cinnamon Brow
Warrington, WA2 0UW
Tel No: 01925 490938
Email:

LEICESTERSHIRE

/

SOMERSET

Steve Jelly / Stuart Wells
10 Kite Close / c/o Millfield School
Broughton Astley / Street
Leicester, LE9 6RY /

Somerset, BA16 0YD

Tel No: 01455 282848 /

Tel No: 01458 442291

Email: /

Email:

LINCOLNSHIRE /

STAFFORDSHIRE

Graham Taylor / Roger Waite
3 Main Road / Bloxwich
Linwood / Walsall, WS3 2JT
Lincolnshire, LN8 3QG / Tel No: 01922 477100
Tel No: 01673 843924 /

Email:

Email: /

SUFFOLK

MIDDLESEX

/ Brian Perks
Fred Hall / 140 Westerfield Road
15 Winifred Road / Ipswich
Hampton Hill, TW12 1AL / IP4 3AF
Tel No: 0208 979 8516 / Tel No: 01473 211334
Email: /

Email:

NORFOLK

/

SURREY

Mrs Margo Horsburgh / Gerry Murphy
5 Bishops Croft / 1 Lime Meadow Avenue
Barningham / Sanderstead
Bury St Edmunds, IP31 1BZ / Croydon, CR2 9AS
Tel No: 01359 221281 / Tel No: 0208 651 2510
Email: /

Email:

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

/

SUSSEX

Richard Lobb / John Court
15 Manor Road / 16 Woodcroft Drive
Pitsford / Eastbourne
Northampton, NN6 9AR / East Sussex, BN21 2XP
Tel No: 01604 881367 / Tel No: 01323 507507
Email: / Email:

NORTHUMBERLAND

/ WARWICKSHIRE
Neil Hamilton / John Simpson
35 Castle View / 86 Welwyndale Road
Ovingham / Sutton Coldfield
Northumberland, NE42 6AU / West Midlands, B72 1AL
Tel No: 01661 836145 / Tel No: 0121 373 2957
Email: / Email:

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

/ WILTSHIRE
Terry Walker /

No Schools’ Association

49 Belfry Way /

WORCESTERSHIRE

Edwalton /

Brian Peplow

Nottingham, NG12 4FA /

‘Links View’, Barnetts Lane

Tel No: 0115 8460569 /

Kidderminster, DY10 3HR

Email:

/

Tel No: 01562 510476

OXFORDSHIRE

/

Email:

Graham Horner /

YORKSHIRE

41 Grove Road /

Neil Hardman

Sonning Common / Edelweiss
Reading, RG4 9RM / Hawthorn Lane
Tel No: 0118 9721462 / Pickering, YO18 7HR
Email: / Tel No: 01751 473035
SHROPSHIRE / Email:
Tom Sunley
Wellfield Cottage
Lawley Village
Telford, TF4 2PL
Tel No: 01952 505865

Email:

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

/ VICE PRESIDENTS
President:David Horsburgh / Dave Rickaby
5 Bishops Croft / 10 Halls Court
Barningham, Bury St Edmunds / Dunston
Suffolk, IP31 1BZ / Lincoln, LN4 2HJ
Tel No: 01359 221281 / Tel No: 01526 322252
Email:

Chairman: Terry Haggerty

/

Mrs June Jeffreys

Penny Farthing, Northbeck / ‘Two Hoots’
Scredington / 70 The Highway, Hawarden
Sleaford, NG34 0AD / Flintshire, CH5 3DH
Tel No: 01529 306240 / Tel No: 01244 532281
Email:
Ann & Roy Whitehead
Secretary:Margo Horsburgh / 26 Litchfield Avenue
See Norfolk / Mansfield, NG18 4SY
Tel No: 01623 627007
Treasurer:Brian Perks
See Suffolk / Peter Hardy

5 Maxwell Close

Asst Secretary: Paul Johnson / Woodley
See Bedfordshire / Reading, RG5 4LS
Tel No: 0118 9618384
David Rickaby – See Vice Presidents
Eddie Monaghan
David Morgan / 2 Eastbank Gardens, Off New Church Road
9 Byron Road / Bolton, BL51 5QP
Stratford on Avon / Tel No: 01204 840803
Warwicks, CV37 7JP / Email:
Tel No: 01789 204172
Email: /

HON LIFE MEMBERS

Ron Cockitt
Eddie Monaghan – See Vice Presidents / 245 Canford Lane
Westbury on Trym, Bristol
Brian Perks – See Suffolk / BS9 3PD

Tel No: 01179 502800

Boys’ Team Manager:
Jason Rhodes /

Ron Snell – See Durham & Cleveland

3 Armstrong Drive
Willington, Co Durham, DL15 0GB /

Eileen Sessions

Tel No: 01388 747160 /

291 Tixall Road

Email: /

Stafford, Staffs, ST16 5XS

Tel No: 01785 242089

Girls’ Team Manager:Karen Nicholls

9 Leigh Furlong Road /

EXTERNAL DELEGATES

Street / EGU:Graham Webb
Somerset BA16 0LF / Little Frome, Forest Drive
Tel No: 01458 443058 / Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire
Email: / LE9 2EA
Tel No: 0116 2393894
Email:
Golf Foundation:Mike Round
The Spinning Wheel
High street
Hoddesdon, EN11 8BB
Tel No: 01992 449830
Email:
EWGA:Sally Goulds
16 Lime Tree Way, Wellington
Telford, Shropshire, TF1 3PJ
Tel No: 01952 256459
Email:

APPENDIX 3

E.S.G.A.

PAST UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

YEAR / CHAMPION / COURSE
1992 / Carl DUKE (Hertfordshire) / Bolton Old Links GC
1993 / John WELLS (Yorkshire) / Stoke Rochford GC
1994 / Kenneth FERRIE (Northumberland) / Ellesborough GC
1995 / Tony HILTON (Sussex) / Bolton Old Links GC
1996 / Nick DOUGHERTY (Lancashire) / Wolstanton GC
1997 / Nick DOUGHERTY (Lancashire) / Chesterfield GC
1998 / Craig STEVENSON (Warwickshire) / Chevin GC
1999 / Tim DAINTY (Suffolk) / Telford GC
2000 / Tim DAINTY (Suffolk) / Wolstanton GC
2001 / Paul OAKLEY (Durham & Cleveland) / Blankney GC
2002 / Ben EVANS (Somerset) / Walsall GC
2003 / Tony MITCHELL (Hertfordshire) / Maxstoke Park GC
2004 / Matt CALLANAN (Bedfordshire) / Walsall GC
2005 / Matt KIPPEN (Somerset) / Leighton Buzzard GC
2006 / Hugo DOBSON (Suffolk) / Chevin GC
2007 / Jamie CARNEY (Warwickshire) / Thetford GC
2008 / Will CHAMBERS (Hertfordshire) / Tankersley Park GC
2009 / Robert BURLISON (Staffordshire) / Northamptonshire County GC

GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1992 / Laura WIXON (Somerset) / Bolton Old Links GC
1993 / Gillian NUTTER (Lancashire) / Stoke Rochford GC
1994 / Caroline SCOTT (Bedfordshire) / Ellesborough GC
1995 / Lisa WALTERS (Derbyshire) / Bolton Old Links GC
1996 / Gemma PRITCHARD (Somerset) / Wolstanton GC
1997 / Rachel BELL (Yorkshire) / Wolstanton GC
1998 / Claire HARRISON (Derbyshire) / Chevin GC
1999 / Sophie WALKER (Lincolnshire) / Telford GC
2000 / Natalie HAYWOOD (Yorkshire) / Wolstanton GC
2001 / Rosanne YOUNGMAN (Northamptonshire) / Blankney GC
2002 / Emma PARR (Northamptonshire) / Walsall GC
2003 / Hannah COLES (Warwickshire) / Maxstoke Park GC
2004 / Hannah BARWOOD (Avon) / Walsall GC
2005 / Laura-Jane MABLEY (Hampshire) / Leighton Buzzard GC
2006 / Raphaela DYER (Hampshire) / Chevin GC
2007 / Elizabeth MALLETT (Warwickshire) / Thetford GC
2008 / Rebecca HEELES (Norfolk) / Tankersley Park GC
2009 / Amber RATCLIFFE (Norfolk) / Northamptonshire County GC

APPENDIX 4