GOLF FOUNDATION AWARDS AT WENTWORTH
Wyn Williams represented Clays Golf Centre to receive the award along with Dilwyn Griffiths from Golf Development Wales, Myra Redmond from Sports development for Wrexham Council.Volunteers, junior organisers, schoolteachers and PGA professionals who have made great strides in helping youngsters to develop as golfers and people were celebrated at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
The Golf Foundation Annual Awards Ceremony sponsored by Greenside magazine and supported by The European Tour, heralded those inspirational figures who have worked closely with the leading golf charity the Golf Foundation to make the game more accessible for youngsters from all backgrounds and abilities.
Taking place on May 20 ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, a packed crowd of VIP guests heard nine stories of commitment to junior golf in 2008 as Golf Foundation President Ken Schofield CBE presented the awards.
Brendon Pyle, National Development Manager of the Golf Foundation, said: "For our work to succeed the Golf Foundation relies heavily on teachers, club volunteers, PGA professionals and development officers all working together. Their dedication to helping others can teach and inspire us all."
The awards are sponsored by Greenside, a consumer magazine with articles developed by the experts, PGA golf professionals, to help golfers get the most out of their golf game. It is produced on behalf of the largest professionals’ buying group Foremost Golf by Haymarket Network. The European Tour, a strong supporter of the Golf Foundation, provided the marquee venue and a well-received lunch as hosts of the awards.
The President’s Awards were presented as follows:
The Critchley Award for the best major project was presented to the Wrexham County Council Golf Development Group. At first reaching 1,000 children in schools, 247 have continued with regular coaching.
The Gus Payne Trophy is awarded to the club that raises the most money for the Golf Foundation’s golf initiatives. For 2008, the award went to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for donating £4,636.
The Sinclair Award, for the PGA professional who has carried out junior development work of real excellence, went to Leanne Cooper, assistant professional at Llanwern Golf Club in Wales who has helped to transform her junior section from seven boys to more than 100 youngsters, including 33 girls.
The Gallacher Award for the volunteer of the year was presented to Cheryl Pawley of Cookridge Hall Golf Club in Leeds. Through Cheryl’s work Cookridge Hall became the first golf club in the North East of England to achieve GolfMark accreditation.
The Bonallack Award for a great school and club programme was presented to Droitwich and Worcester School Sport Partnership, which achieved 100 per cent coverage of every school in the partnership (taking golf to 48 schools, including five special schools).
The Laddie Lucas Award for the best local initiative went to Tapton Park Golf Club, which has actively engaged with 23 local schools through club volunteers, young leaders and the PGA professional, and offers free coaching to all new junior members.
The Burroughs Award,
for an individual who has done so much for helping disabled golfers,
was presented to PGA professional Jon Woodroffe who has made a great
impact in working with four special schools and coaching students who
have behavioural or learning difficulties and physical disabilities.
The
Mackenzie Award highlights how golf can be used to promote positive
life messages to young people. This year’s winner – Breakthrough Golf
in South Gloucestershire –supported young people facing exclusion from
school by using golf to significantly change behaviour.
The Sir Henry Cotton Award for long-term service to junior golf was won by David Houlihan. who has taken tremendous steps to develop junior golf in the city of Portsmouth, both at his home club which saw junior membership treble in his time as club secretary, and also in the wider community.