News

WARWICKSHIRE GOES FOR A BURTON!

The development of golf in Warwickshire is being put to the fore with the appointment of a County Development Officer.

The Warwickshire County Golf Partnership (WCGP) has appointed Julia Burton, a marketing and events specialist, who shares a passion for golf and sport, to drive its programme of activities designed to encourage more adults and juniors into the game.

The move follows additional financial support for Warwickshire from Sport England and the England Golf Partnership, and marks a reignited focus for clubs to attract more members, put the game top of mind in schools and in particular encourage more women to get into golf.

Julia will be working closely with Sharon Heeley, the EGU/EWGA regional development officer and the WCGP committee of volunteers.

John Stubbings, chairman of WCGP said:  “We are delighted to have Julia on board as our first county development officer and her appointment marks a major milestone for the partnership, enabling us to fulfil our extensive programme of activities in a more focused and professional way.  This includes helping more golf clubs to achieve Golf Mark status which opens doors by encouraging  a more inclusive and friendly approach towards newcomers and juniors. 

“In addition to visiting clubs across the county, Julia will also be spearheading our major promotional campaign to be launched in April, aimed at getting more people into golf across the county.”

Julia, who lives near Sutton Coldfield, is a single figure handicap golfer and a former tennis professional.  She can be contacted at julia.burton@wcgp.info

NEWCOMERS DRIVE

GOLF SUCCESS

Over 400 men, women and children across Warwickshire have given golf a go and taken advantage of free ‘ taster’ golf lessons over the last two months.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership (WGCP) was aimed at encouraging as many newcomers of all ages to ‘give golf a go’ and has surpassed all expectations.  Events were staged by qualified PGA professionals for adults and juniors with a number of venues offering dedicated sessions for women.

Participating venues included:  The Belfry, Coventry GC, Edgbaston GC, Hatchford Brook, Harborne Church Farm, Kenilworth GC, Leamington GC, Maxstoke Park GC, Nuneaton GC, Rugby GC, Shirley GC and The Warwickshire.

Commenting, John Stubbings, chairman of WCGP said:  “The campaign has proved a resounding success in getting people to think about taking up the game and inspired many to enrol on various courses of both individual and group lessons with PGA professionals.  Clubs taking part have also boosted membership numbers and in view of its success plans to run the campaign next year are already in the pipeline.”

For information on your nearest facility visit the Get into Golf section of this website.

£10,000 BOOST 

FOR GOLF!

Golf in Warwickshire has received a £10,000 boost to develop the sport and introduce more people of all ages and backgrounds to the game across the county.

The Warwickshire County Golf Partnership (WCGP), an alliance between the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs (WUGC), the Warwickshire Ladies County Golf Association (WLCGA) and the Warwickshire PGA has successfully secured an initial £10,000 grant, following the approval of its development plan by the England Golf Partnership.  The partnership has also secured an additional £15,000 development funding for 2010 and 2011.

Over the next three years, the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership will be implementing its development plan, delivering a host of initiatives for newcomers and lapsed players, as well as fuelling interest amongst local golf clubs and driving ranges. 

Its sole purpose is to encourage more men, women, boys and girls of all ages to take up the game and play golf regularly.  Initiatives will include a series of FREE taster sessions aimed at both adults and juniors with the launch of a Warwickshire Golf Week which swings into action for Easter 2009. 

The Partnership has also invested in a range of golf equipment for newcomers to use at the series of events, enabling people to ‘try before they buy’.

Details of the development plan were announced to golf clubs at a launch event held at West Midlands Golf Club on Saturday 27 September.  Members of the public were also treated to a taster of what’s in store over the next 12 months with free golf lessons from a team of six PGA golf professionals. 

Commenting John Stubbings, chairman of the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership said:  “2008 represents a milestone in Warwickshire golfing history, as the three county associations have come together to encourage more men, women, boys and girls of all ages to take up the game and play golf regularly. 

“Exciting times and a lot of hard work lies ahead, as the partnership looks towards to implementing its development plan. Everyone should be given a chance to have a go at golf and our campaign to develop the game across Warwickshire sets out to do just that.”

John Stubbings also paid tribute to Sharon Healey, regional development officer at the England Golf Partnership who has played a huge part in helping Warwickshire secure the grant by delivering a successful development plan.

Prior to forming the partnership, each respective organisation developed the game from an independent perspective, but now it’s definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

As part of the plan the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership has developed a website with the help of Stratford-upon-Avon based web designers, ‘A Trouble Halved’ and further details can be found on www.wcgp.info

Warwickshire is now one of 26 county partnerships in England, formed to develop golf for the good of the game.

NEW PARTNERSHIP MAKES HISTORY FOR WARWICKSHIRE GOLF

Golf clubs throughout Warwickshire have given the green light for its county amateur and professional organisations to join forces and promote the game through a united alliance for the first time in its sporting history.The move to form the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership (WCGP) breaks over 100 years of golfing tradition in the county, with the coming together of the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs (WUGC), The Warwickshire Ladies' County Golf Association (WLCGA) and the Warwickshire Professional Golfers' Association (WPGA).

The proposed joint venture recently received an overwhelming vote of confidence by both private and proprietary clubs across the county, and its sole aim will be to introduce more people to the game, irrespective of age or background.

Commenting John Stubbings, President of the WUGC and the newly appointed WCGP chairman said:  “2008 represents a milestone in Warwickshire golfing history, as the three county associations come together to encourage more men, women, boys and girls of all ages to take up the game and play golf regularly.

“You're never too young or too old to play golf and we're looking forward to planning a host of initiatives that encourage more people to think about the game and give it a go. Having an alliance which includes all the county's teaching PGA professionals adds significant strength to the partnership, in providing expert tuition for new starters.

“Exciting times and a lot of hard work lies ahead, as the partnership looks towards forming a development plan over the coming months, which will deliver a host of initiatives for newcomers and lapsed players, as well as fuelling interest amongst local golf clubs and driving ranges.

“None of this would have been possible without the help of the England Golf Partnership and Sharon Heeley, our appointed regional development officer, who has worked tirelessly on our behalf to bring us all together”, he added.

Prior to forming the partnership, each respective organisation developed the game from an independent perspective, but now it's definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

Forming a county golf partnership also means that Warwickshire qualifies for up to £20,000 in grants to implement its development plan over the next three years.

Additional funding is also hoped to be raised by Warwickshire through the introduction of a range of sponsorship opportunities, which will provide a unique commercial platform for companies and businesses to associate their brand with over 25,000 golfers in the county, as well as being involved in community linked initiatives.

The Warwickshire County Golf Partnership has formed a steering committee comprising three representatives from WUGC, WLCGA and WPGA.  In the meantime it's business as usual in all other aspects of managing Warwickshire golf for the three respective organisations, in terms of their players and clubs for county and individual events, competitions and team matches.

There are 17 fully operational county golf partnerships in England, and Warwickshire is now one of seven counties currently under development.

FREE GOLF LESSONS FOR NEWCOMERS

Warwickshire is encouraging as many newcomers and beginners of all ages to ‘Go Green’ and give golf a go by providing FREE lessons at an event in September to mark the start of a new initiative across the county, aimed at developing the game.

The Warwickshire County Golf Partnership is launching its development plan for golf at the West Midlands Golf Club in Barston near Solihull on Saturday 27 September by staging a ‘Tee Time’ Extravaganza.

The event tees off from 3.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. when a team of qualified PGA professionals will be on hand to provide hints and tips to adults and children attending on how to get started, as well as individual or group taster sessions. 

A range of equipment will also be available for use and the West Midlands Golf Club is providing access to all its practice facilities, which includes a pitching and practice putting area.  This also includes the supply of ‘tri-golf’ and ‘golf extreme’ equipment for children and adults, so there’s no excuse for everyone in the family not to give it a go. Visitors will also have the chance to enjoy a complimentary afternoon tea whilst joining in the fun.

The taster sessions on Saturday 27 September will be available for up to 100 people attending and participants are advised to register their interest by visiting www.wcgp.info/contact_us.aspx to avoid disappointment.

As John Stubbings, chairman of the Warwickshire County Golf Partnership explained:  “Golf really is a game for the whole family.  There aren’t many sports where mum, dad and the children can spend a couple of hours together, enjoying the fresh air and getting some exercise – and there’s nothing to stop grandparents, aunts and uncles joining in either!

“Everyone should be given a chance to have a go at the game and our campaign to develop the game across Warwickshire sets out to do just that”, he said.

The event has been timed to coincide with the surge of interest in the game following this year’s epic Open Championship and US PGA wins for Padraig Harrington and the highly contested Europe v USA matches for the forthcoming Ryder Cup in Kentucky in September.

The initiative is being backed by the Coventry Telegraph as part of its ‘Go Green’ Campaign and marks the start of a call to action aimed at encouraging new players of all ages on to the fairways.  Participants will have the opportunity to purchase a starter club and take advantage of booking a course of lessons at a special introductory rate.

Stiletto Golf – a Warwickshire based organisation aimed at encouraging business women to take up the game and capitalise on the game as a networking business opportunity will also be in attendance, www.stiletto-golf.co.uk