Four clubs target England's Most Welcoming title

Issued 8th February, 2018  Four clubs target England's 'Most Welcoming' title Four finalists are targeting the title of England Golf's Most Welcoming Club, sponsored by American Golf.  They are: Burghill Valley Golf Club, Herefordshire; Garforth Golf Club, Yorkshire; Golf at Goodwood, Sussex; and Norwood Park Golf Centre, Nottinghamshire. They're all top notch at reaching and enthusing new volunteers, players and members. They persuade women, youngsters and people from ethnic minorities to give golf a go. They offer a really warm welcome and they're part of their local community.  But there can be only one winner – and the successful club will be announced at the sell-out England Golf Awards 2018 at the Royal Lancaster London on 22 February. England Golf Chief Executive Nick Pink commented: "These four clubs are absolute experts at putting their customers at the heart of everything they do. By understanding what people want from their golfing experience they are able to welcome new players to the game and to keep their members contented and involved. All four finalists deserve recognition and we will have a very worthy winner."  The finalists:  Burghill Valley Golf Club, Herefordshire Burghill Valley has the simple aim of making all their visitors feel welcome and have fun – and it works.  Societies return year after year to enjoy the course and clubhouse experience and community groups hold their meetings and functions there. There's a relaxed dress code and the use of mobile phones is standard practice, within reason. Technological changes are embraced, but introduced at the members' pace.  The club believes its approach helps to change the perception of golf and move it away from a stuffy, elitist image. It's rewarded with a membership which is always ready to volunteer and help the club thrive.  It also has a big welcome for new golfers with schemes including free junior coaching, a business women's networking course which now has a waiting list, and by offering coaching and work experience to visually impaired students.  Garforth Golf Club, Leeds, Yorkshire  Garforth prides itself as a community-based golf club, with a welcome for all. It's constantly developing strategies to reach out in its neighbourhood and it makes sure there's a great first impression for visitors with a warm meet-and-greet from staff. That attitude has helped them to attract members and to forge links with local schools, associations and clubs, welcoming a large number of players aged under 16 – and their parents. But the club is not satisfied, it wants to reach more groups within its ethnically diverse community and to connect with disability organisations.  The club has tested itself with a 'mystery shopper' review and received great feedback which reinforced its approach. It has also been rewarded by positive social media chatter about its food and beverage operation and its staff.   Golf at Goodwood, Sussex An open door policy has paid huge dividends at Golf at Goodwood, introducing hundreds of new golfers and members.   The club is heavily involved in community activities in West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey, creating interest in the game with visits to over 50 schools, local fairs and sports events.  Back at the club there's a wide range of coaching opportunities and a discounted Get into Golf membership, which encourages new golfers with lessons, restricted course time and practice facility use. The views of exisiting members are listened to, thanks to a group of representatives from various sections of the club who provide feedback and ideas.  The result last year was that the club retained 92% of its membership and took in 299 new members. There is a junior membership of over 100 and a women's membership of 316. Norwood Park Golf Centre, Nottinghamshire The welcome at Norwood Park and the way customers are looked after has given the club its highest-ever membership.  Over the last six years this has grown by about 200, with many new and lapsed golfers attracted by opportunities such as the EZ Golf course for beginners with 50-yard holes and 15in cups. Women and girls can get started with the Girls Golf Rocks and Pink Ladies schemes and there's coaching for players of all abilities. The club listens to its members through an annual survey and reaches out to the community with its annual family open day, when hundreds of people attend to enjoy the activities.  The club also has partnerships with a charity which supports people with learning difficulties and with a local care home. It also encourages players from disability groups and schools for children with special needs.  Click here to view all the finalists for the 2018 England Golf Awards

MATHARU SLUMPS IN LAST ROUND, PACE WINS CAPE TOWN PLAY-OFF

South African Lee-Anne Pace shook off her early-season rust to capture her 12th Sunshine Ladies Tour title with a play-off victory over France's Anne-Lise Caudal in the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club today (Thu).

England's Kiran Matharu whose third-round 67 put her in the mix slumped a to a final round of 78 for a share of sixth place on 219, five behind Pace and Caudal.

Trailing by two shots to best friend Caudal as they reached the final hole, Pace holed a long birdie putt to deny the Frenchwoman a long-overdue trophy.

A round of 71 from Pace and a 70 from Caudal after a bogey at 18, saw the pair tie one eight-under 214. 

They made the return trip back to the 18th tee for a sudden-death play-off where Pace prevailed with a par.

Pace trailed by three strokes at the start of the day and knew she needed to land some birdies in order to catch long-time leader Ivanna Samu. Pace cancelled out a birdie on the first with bogeys on the second and third holes and racked up four in a row from the fifth before dropping another shot at the ninth.

Her roller-coaster round continued down the back nine with a pair of birdies sandwiched between bogeys at 10 and 13, followed by four pars and the title-saving birdie at 18.

“The bogeys at two and three really fired me up,” said Pace.

“I was angry with myself and I reeled off four birdies in a row as a result. But it’s been that kind of week for me. I made some birdies and then gave shots back as if they were Christmas presents that I needed to return.

“I made a decent start to the season in the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open, but I never really got the putter going. I was ready to fire in the Joburg Ladies Open, but then a virus struck and I was forced to withdraw after just six holes in the first round. That stung, so I really came here this week with a winning mind-set. It’s really great to be back in the winner’s circle.”

Samu, after rounds of 68 and 72 to lead through 18 and 36 holes, subsided with a closing effort of 79 to finish alongside Matharu on 219

Caudal, a regular campaigner on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, was pleased to get back into contention.

The two-time winner Ladies European Tour winner was four-under at the start of the final round, and level heading down the final nine holes, but an eagle at the par five 11th sparked a great run on the home stretch.

Birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th propelled her into a two-shot lead, but a pulled tee shot on the final hole put the brakes on her victory charge. The ensuing bogey landed her in the play-off and another drop at 18 left Pace to swoop in for her second Cape Town Ladies Open win in the last three years.

“I played really well on the back nine and I’m happy with my week,” Caudal said.

“On the last hole I was up against the tree and had to chip out and then I left my approach shot short – but that’s golf. It’s been a long time and I struggled with my game last year, so it was fun to get into contention again.”

The pair were unaware that, behind them, the leading group overnight had run into trouble, meaning that it had effectively turned into a duel between the two best friends.

“It was tricky because the last time I saw a scoreboard was around the 14th, when eight-under was leading,” said Pace. “I assumed the players behind us was leading. Anne-Lise was going well and when a crowd started following us and the cameramen turned up, I realised one of us had a good chance of winning.”

Meanwhile South Africa’s Nicole Garcia – who lines up in title defence in next week’s Dimension Data Ladies Challenge in George – had three birdies in the last four holes for a 70 and sole third place on seven under 215.

Canon Ladies Tshwane Open winner Stacy Bregman finish fourth on even-par 216.

CAPE TOWN LADIES OPEN

Royal Cape Golf Club

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Players from South Africa unless stated otherwise

214 Lee-Anne Pace 71 72 71, Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 74 70 70 (Pace won play-off at first extra hole).

215 Nicole Garcia 70 75 70

215 Stact Bregman 72 73 71

SELECTED TOTALS

219 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 74 67 78, Ivanna Samu 68 72 79 (T6).

220 Lauren Taylor (Eng) 74 77 69, Hayley Davis (Eng) 69 79 72 (T9)

222 Rachael Goodall (Eng) 72 78 72 (T12)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS

Scottish Golf Appoints Football Chief McKinlay as New CEO

Scottish Golf is delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew McKinlay as its new Chief Executive.

Andrew joins us from the Scottish FA, where he has worked in a number of key senior management roles over the past six years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive.

He has been appointed after a rigorous recruitment process which commenced last October and attracted a host of high-calibre applicants.

 Eleanor Cannon, Scottish Golf Chair: “On behalf of the Board of Scottish Golf, I am thrilled to welcome Andrew as our new Chief Executive. Throughout the process his experience, enthusiasm and vision stood out from a hugely impressive field of candidates.

 “We were particularly impressed by the range of responsibilities in football, especially in overseeing football’s equality and diversity strategy at all levels of the game. Increasing girls’ and women’s participation is a priority focus area for Scottish Golf and his expertise will be vital to our future growth strategy.

 “Andrew is passionate about golf and his experience working in sport and business will be integral to taking Scottish Golf’s strategic plan forward. We look forward to welcoming Andrew to Scottish Golf in May.”

 Andrew McKinlay said: “I look forward to the hugely exciting challenge of leading Scottish Golf towards a prosperous future as the governing body for the largest registered participation sport in Scotland

 “As a keen golfer, I know the many benefits of playing golf regardless of age, gender or ability. I realise a lot of hard work has been undertaken already to increase participation and accessibility to golf and, having attended December’s Future of Golf conference in Edinburgh, I believe the passion and collective will throughout the membership gives us a terrific foundation on which to build a bright future for our game.”

 Andrew McKinlay CV: 
 • January 2016 - 2018: Chief Operating Officer/Interim Chief Executive, Scottish Football Association
• April 2012 - December 2015: Director of Football Governance and Regulation, Scottish Football Association
• May 2009 - April 2012: Head of Operations, Property Solutions (a Division of Clydesdale/Yorkshire Banks)
• August 2007 - May 2009: Deputy Head of Legal Services, Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank
• March 2004 - August 2007: Head of Commercial Contracts, Legal Services, Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank