First Birthday for the BB&O Golf Partnership
The English Golf Union (EGU), English Ladies’ Golf
Association (ELGA) and the PGA are joining with the Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire (BB&O) Golf Partnership
to celebrate its successful first twelve months.
Since the Partnership was launched, bringing together the
men’s County Union, three ladies’ County Associations
and the County PGA, it has made some notable achievements.
These include the formation of a countywide development plan
which has resulted in additional finance for the training
of volunteers to PGA level 1 coaching and the setting up of
school club links.
These successes have been recognised and their work to promote
the game is being backed by the additional funding of £10,000
from England Golf for its second year.
Gordon Jones, Chairman of the BB&O Golf Partnership commented,
“I am really encouraged by the progress we have made
in our first year. Golf development is now firmly on club
agendas in Berks, Bucks and Oxon, encouraging more people
into the game.”
The Partnership has overseen a dramatic increase in the take-up
of grants administered by the EGU and ELGA on behalf of England
Golf. The number of clubs in BB&O receiving funds to offer
free golf coaching has increased by 220% over 2006. This equates
to £8,000 of investment for this initiative and for
junior golf coaching grants.
More women and girls are joining clubs and the Partnership
is measuring the changes to overall club membership as its
work takes effect.
The BB&O Partnership has also launched its own website,
www.bbogolfpartnership.com, sends regular e-mail newsletters
to golfers and clubs, arranged child protection training for
over 110 volunteers, has 22 golf clubs already registered
for GolfMark accreditation (with 5 having received the award),
held a development conference held at Bisham Abbey and recruited
a County Development Officer.
Nationally, the number of County Golf Partnerships continues
to grow, with nine Partnerships now in place, four in development
and twelve at the initial discussion stage.
For further information and to read what achievements counties
have had to date please visit www.englishgolfunion.org and
click on ‘About Us’ and ‘Info for Counties’.
County Golf Partnerships is an initiative jointly provided
by the EGU, ELGA and the PGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole
Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England
Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
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