Glossop & District Golf Club receives England Golf's GolfMark Award

5th March 2013

L-R Glossop Lady Captain Mavis Greenwood, Derbyshire Golf Development Officer Nigel Furniss, Glossop Mens Captain Ken Harrison

Glossop & District Golf Club is the latest Derbyshire Club to be awarded the national GolfMark accreditation demonstrating their hard work and dedication to both junior and beginner's golf.

England Golf developed the GolfMark award to identify and acknowledge golf facilities in England that were junior and beginner friendly

The GolfMark award also integrates Sport England's Clubmark award - a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.  More than 30 other sports, including tennis and rugby are also using the alliance to add value to their accreditation schemes and over 10,000 sports clubs have been awarded Clubmark or are working towards achieving accreditation.

There are a number of benefits that golf clubs can gain by achieving GolfMark accreditation, including increased membership, raising the club's profile, further development of coaches and volunteers and greater access to funding.

L-R Community Sports Development Officer Emma Champion, Councillor Jean Wharmby, Chairman Derbyshire County Council George Wharmby, Glossop Lady Captain Mavis Greenwood, Derbyshire Golf Development Officer Nigel Furniss, Glossop Mens Captain Ken Harrison, Glossop President Mike Bridge, Glossop Junior Organiser Cliff Grimshaw, Club Professional Phil Haynes and Chairman Junior Golf Tony Meheran

GolfMark evaluates golf clubs on the following three areas within their junior section:

•  Coaching & Playing

•  Club Environment, including sports equity and ethics

•  Child Protection & Duty of Care

The award will be proudly displayed at the club and will provide parents with the reassurance that the needs and safety of children have been thoroughly considered.

Nigel Furniss, Development Officer for the Derbyshire Golf Partnership, said: “Derbyshire Golf would like to congratulate Glossop Golf Club, and in particular their Chair of Junior Golf, Tony Meheran, on being awarded GolfMark. This demonstrates the club's commitment to encouraging junior golf and creating opportunities for people to participate and enjoy the game of golf. All those involved in reaching this achievement deserve a vote of thanks.”

The Club's Captain, Ken Harrison, added, “We are fully committed to encouraging as many youngsters as possible in the Glossop area to be given the opportunity to take up the game of golf and achieving GolfMark accreditation is a great boost for this initiative. This year we are investing in our practice area to give the young golfers of Glossop a great coaching environment with state of the art bays, a chipping and putting facility and a dedicated teaching area”.

Glossop Golf Club offers subsidised coaching to Junior Members as well as having an active schools outreach programme. Taster sessions are also available for schools and community groups, as well as groups of adults.