MEMBERS at East Berkshire Golf Club are celebrating making the cut after receiving a national award.
England Golf has issued the Crowthorne course GolfMark status, a seal of approval which recognises clubs working to develop the game in four particular ways.
This is though: attracting new members and encouraging existing ones to play more; using practical business planning to develop the club; offering coaching and playing opportunities for all golfers and ensuring the necessary safeguarding policies are in place.
East Berkshire is a private members’ club comprising an 18-hole course, practice ground and clubhouse.
It is now also the first within the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxon (BB&O) fraternity to be handed the accolade.
Barry Slater, the junior organiser who helped secure GolfMark, said: “East Berkshire Golf Club is a great club, it’s very friendly, welcoming and
forward-thinking.
“This award helps us to spread that message and to tell people that children are safe and secure here and that we understand about beginner golfers.”
Dean Newbold, county development officer for the Berkshire County Golf Partnership, presented the award.
“I’m delighted that East Berkshire has achieved GolfMark and that its efforts to grow the game can be nationally recognised,” he added.
Developed by England Golf, the award also integrates Sport England’s Clubmark award, a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.
With it comes a number of benefits, which include the raising of awareness, access to funding, business and marketing support, as well as training opportunities for staff and volunteers.
Clubs with GolfMark have seen membership rise by some 40%.
For more information visit www.golfmark.org
