Golf: Hesketh making mark for juniors

Jul 8 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

HESKETH has become the first golf club along the Southport coast to be awarded GolfMark recognition after successfully completing the national scheme.

The club has worked closely with the English Golf Union/English Women’s Golf Association’s Regional Development Officer John Stoszkowski to develop its junior section and by showing a commitment to junior golf.

The EGU and EWGA GolfMark Award was re-launched in March 2006 as the national accreditation scheme identifying junior and beginner-friendly golf facilities.

Martyn Senior, Hesketh secretary, said: “Working through the GolfMark accreditation system has really focused us on developing our junior section now and for the future. It is fantastic to see such a thriving section and shows what can be done when a club really sets out to promote itself to a younger audience.”

The club this year formed a partnership with the local Specialist Sports College based at the nearby Stanley High School and is implementing a programme of coaching within primary and secondary schools in the area led by Hesketh professional Scott Astin and his assistants.

It is hoped many of these children, after experiencing golf within the school environment, can then be filtered into the golf club to continue the sport for years to come.

Interested clubs can apply to gain the award and will be supported on the three key areas of coaching and playing, club environment (including sports equity and ethics), child protection and duty of care.

EGU/EWGA development officers support clubs from registration through to accreditation to help them to strive towards ‘the ideal’.

Details of the initiative and the benefits of receiving the award can be found at www.golfmark.org