Left to right: Wendy Wootton, Alan Covey, Charlotte Stanton, Kevin Whalley,
Bev Dodd and Nickie Clarke (image © Design & Print Service,
Loughborough University)
NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF
Six
“wonderful” volunteers, who inspire others to take up and enjoy golf,
were honoured when they were named England’s Golf Volunteers of the
Year.
The 2013
awards, made by the England Golf Partnership (EGP), were presented
during a gala dinner at the annual County Golf Development Conference at
Loughborough University.
The
winners were: Charlotte Stanton of Staffordshire and Birmingham
University, Bev Dodd of Lancashire, Wendy Wootton of Suffolk, Alan Covey
of Sussex, Kevin Whalley of Hertfordshire and Nickie Clarke of Norfolk.
They were
applauded by a packed conference hall made up of those leading the
EGP’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’ through the County Golf Partnership
structure.
Phil
Beard, the EGP’s Volunteer Manager, said: “These volunteers are
wonderful people who give up their time to inspire others to take up and
enjoy golf. They play a crucial part in growing the game and these
awards recognise and underline their importance.”
The award winners:
Young Volunteer of the Year
Charlotte Stanton, Whittington Heath Golf Club, Staffordshire
Charlotte,
20, is a five-handicap county player who began volunteering by helping
at girls’ beginner classes run by the Staffordshire Golf Partnership.
She was soon invited to join the EGP’s National Youth Panel and has been
a member for three years, supporting community projects and helping to
give young people a voice in the future of golf.
She’s in
her final year at Birmingham University where she is taking Applied Golf
Management Studies and has gained her Level 2 coaching qualification.
She’s the university’s volunteer golf activator and has encouraged a
massive growth in student participation in the sport, also liaising and
working with the Warwickshire Golf Partnership.
Charlotte
said: “It’s great to be recognised for what I’ve done. I don’t do it
for the recognition but it does give you that bit more motivation to
carry on.”
Volunteer Coach of the Year
Bev Dodd, Rossendale Golf Club, Lancashire
Bev
switched from hockey to golf less than 10 years ago, is passionate about
the game and passes on her enthusiasm to children and adults alike. She
is the club’s junior development officer and has trained as a Level 1
Coach, supporting PGA professionals Steve Nicholls and Mike Bardi at
coaching sessions for the youngsters.
Her
overall contribution to the junior section is described by her club as
“outstanding” and she was instrumental in Rossendale acquiring the
Golfmark award in recognition of its junior and beginner-friendly
facilities. She’s even persuaded some parents to take up golf!
Bev has also organised taster sessions to encourage new golfers and she supports and mentors new lady members.
“I was really surprised by the award and feel very proud and honoured to have been selected,” said Bev. “It’s wonderful.”
Club Development Award
Wendy Wootton of Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club, Suffolk
Wendy is
both junior organiser and director of marketing and membership and her
club describes her as a ‘champion volunteer’. She is also secretary of
the Suffolk Golf Partnership, which develops the game in the county.
Wendy’s
achievements include setting up the club’s Kingsfleet Juniors to
encourage young children and she visits local schools with the club’s
PGA professional, Robert Joyce, to introduce youngsters to Tri Golf. She
was instrumental in the club receiving the GolfMark High Achiever
Award.
In her
marketing and membership role she sets out to generate more income for
the club and has organised open days to attract new members.
Wendy
said: “The award has really lifted me and, more importantly, it puts
the club even more on the map. I’m very proud and really pleased to be
part of this club.”
County Development Award
Alan Covey of Ifield Golf Club, Sussex
Alan
won the vote of parents and players when the Sussex County Golf Union
put him forward for this award. He has just completed seven years as the
county boys’ manager and his nomination was accompanied by a string of
testimonials.
They were
summed up with this comment: “Alan is a very worthy nominee – he has
influenced the golfing futures of so many boys through his tireless
optimism and enthusiasm and by the enormous amount of his own time that
he has been prepared to give over the years.”
Alan, now
the Sussex county captain, commented: “I am only one of many county
managers who work tirelessly to try and make our juniors ‘the best they
can be’. This award should be for all them and the fantastic committees
that make it all happen around the country.”
Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Golf – male
Kevin Whalley of Mill Green Golf Club, Hertfordshire
Kevin,
who has been profoundly deaf since birth, receives this award in
recognition of his tremendous contribution to deaf golf, both in England
and around the world.
He
started organised deaf golf in England in the early 1980s and has run
more than 100 events over the years. He became a director of the British
Deaf Sports Council before becoming closely involved with the English
Deaf Golf Association, of which he is currently president and treasurer.
Kevin was
the secretary and treasurer of World Deaf Golf Federation and organised
the first World Deaf Golf Championship in 1995 at the Forest of Arden
after seven years’ research to find countries with deaf golfers.
He
commented: “It's wonderful to receive this award after 30 years of
volunteering and it is particularly special because it is recognition
for deaf golf.”
Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Golf – female
Nickie Clarke of Royal Norwich Golf Club, Norfolk
Nickie
has volunteered in golf at every level – club, county and country – for
over 30 years. She’s been captain at her club, a county team player and
Norfolk captain (twice!) and she’s currently county president. She also
runs the county ladies’ website.
She
chaired the former English Ladies’ Golf Association and captained
England teams for three years. She’s been jointly responsible for the
project to reassess the scratch score of ladies’ courses in England.
Nickie
also plays a key role in the recruitment of new golfers as a founding
member of the Norfolk Golf Partnership, which grows the game in the
county.
She
commented: “I am extremely proud to receive this award and feel very
humble to have been chosen when there are so many other volunteers who
have done just as much.”
The
national volunteering programme is delivered via the England Golf
Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of the
England Golf Partnership’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
For more on volunteers go to www.golfvolunteers.org
Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
England Golf Partnership
07825 752 193
lyndsey.hewison@ntlworld.comLabels: Amateur Ladies, Amateur Men
