NEW DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GOLF PARTNERSHIP

Debbie Casling is the new development officer for the Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership replacing Steve Scott-Bowen, who resigned to become the regional development officer for the Golf Foundation.

Debbie, from Gloucester, spent four years with the Surrey police force, and for the past 6¹/₂ years has worked as Press Officer and in Learning Resources at Tewkesbury School.

“In both these jobs I dealt directly with people, many and varied, and was involved with the detail of administration …. all of which, I know, will be invaluable as CDO,” says Debbie .

On the golfing side she has been heavily involved with the Gloucestershire Girls’ Golf over the past few years as its northern representative.

“I have seen the pleasure and pride in achievement that youngsters get from golf – whatever their standard – and I want to see that same satisfaction and enjoyment in adult newcomers to the game.

Funds to make this possible are available.  I want to help make sure we, as a County, access those funds and use them wisely, and to the advantage of all,” she said

To this end she will be visiting the County’s golf clubs, assisting all to reach the highest standards of best practice and to achieve their GolfMark/Rangemark accreditations.

“I am here to help, so please feel free to contact me either by e-mail on gcdo@btinternet.com, or by phone on 07968894812, for more information or to make arrangements for a visit,” she added.

The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) are delighted to announce that they have awarded the Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership £22,000 over the next three years to support the development of golf within the county.

The Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership (GCGP) was formed in June 2006 and is an alliance between the Gloucestershire Golf Union, Gloucestershire Ladies Golf Association and the Professional Golfers Association, with the main aim to promote the development of golf within the county and to encourage more people from all backgrounds to take up the game.

Over the next year the Partnership will receive the first £10,000 towards the implementation of its countywide development plan, which has ambitious objectives including increasing the overall number of people playing golf in Gloucestershire by 3% and more specifically women and girls participation by 10%.

Richard Flint, EGU/ELGA Golf Development Manager, commented, “The Gloucestershire Partnership has been extremely proactive and now has a strong foundation from which to really drive development forward across the county. The EGU and ELGA are delighted to support the work of the Partnership and we have no doubt that many other counties will look at putting a similar structure in place.”

Other aims for the Partnership are increasing the number of active members at affiliated clubs, 20% of clubs achieving the nationally recognised GolfMark accreditation and to implement an annual training programme to support and recognise volunteers and teaching professionals.

Sharon Heeley, Regional & Gloucestershire Golf Partnership Development Officer, added, “The Partnership has worked very hard to put such a comprehensive development plan in place and we are grateful to all of the clubs, and in particular the volunteers, that have supported the process. We very much look forward to putting the plan into action.”

The GCGP is one of 24 county partnerships that are developing throughout England. Their aim is to bring together the three main golfing organisations, the EGU, ELGA and the PGA, and utilise their combined knowledge, experience and resources to support and expand golf within a county. County Golf Partnerships are an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and are an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.

The Partnership’s website, www.gloucestershiregolfpartnership.org, provides details on progress of the latest development initiatives and activities taking place around the county.

More information on County Golf Partnerships can be found on the ‘For Golf Clubs’ section of the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org, and then click on ‘Info for Counties’.       

DID YOU KNOW ??  

THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE GOLF PARTNERSHIP WAS FORMED IN JUNE 2006 AND HAS BEEN AWARDED GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOLF WITHIN THE COUNTY!

Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership

The Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership (CGP)
www.gloucestershiregolfpartnership.org

In 2004, Sport England (who distribute Lottery money to English Sport) designated golf as one of the top 10 sports in the country and asked EGU, ELGA and PGA to produce a 'Whole Sport for Golf' which covered all elements of the game - amateur, professional, men, ladies and juniors. This plan was produced and submitted for funding in February 2005. As a result, Sport England awarded golf £9million for the period 2005 - 2009.

This is administered by The England Golf Partnership whose members are EGU, ELGA, the PGA with the support of the Golf Foundation and Sport England. The plan itself consists of three main sections - 'Start, Stay and Succeed'. The first two of these sections covers getting people into the game and then retaining them. 'Succeed', as its title implies, deals with the elite end of the game at county and national levels.

County Golf Partnerships (CGP) are an effective and structured way to support the development of golf within a county.  By the County Union and Association working closely together with other appropriate bodies, such as the PGA at county level, knowledge, experience, best practice and resources can be combined and utilised.  In addition, a CGP will be in a better position to access external funding from local organisations.  The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies Golf Association (ELGA) can provide support in facilitating the creation of a CGP and in the production and implementation of a county development plan.

Aims and Objectives of County Golf Partnerships
Within a county, to promote the game of golf and standard of play and to introduce more people to the game and into regular participation, regardless of age, gender and background. The aim will be achieved through the production, implementation and review of a development plan which will be delivered to the constituent bodies working in partnership with other agencies at both local and national level and as per the agreement conditions as defined by EGU/ELGA.

Benefits of a CGP
• Sharing best practice, knowledge, experience and resources.
• Identifying the development needs of golf within the county – priorities and intentions.
• Approaching the development of golf within an effective and structured framework.
• Supporting the needs of volunteers, coaches, administrators, clubs and golfers within the county.
• Providing direction and motivation to those working at county and club level.
• Providing a means by which progress can be measured, demonstrating leadership and forward thinking.
• Providing comprehensive information, structure and intentions to those outside of the union/association.
• Accessing EGU/ELGA and external funding for golf development.
• Linking into a national development plan.
• Ongoing support from EGU/ELGA Regional and County Development Officers.

The Gloucestershire Golf Partnership was formed in June 2006 and works closely with the EGU, ELGA, the County Development Officer and the Regional Development Officer, (Sharon Heeley)
 
The Gloucestershire Golf Partnership is mainly concerned with the 'Start and Stay' elements of the 'Whole Sport Plan'

The Partnership has a Steering Committee made up of representatives of the five partner organisations, as follows:

GGU        Don Harmer (Chairman), Ian Watkins (Treasurer) & Mark Powell
GLCGA   Jenny May
PGA       James Latham, Ed Goodwin, Sarah Claridge & Glen Ross (PGA SW Region)
Others   Eric Millard (Schools), Linda Carruthers (ELGA Regional Training Officer) & Richard King (Hartpury College)   
                            
Gloucestershire was the first county in England to have a County Development Officer appointed and funded by the English Golf Union and English Ladies Golf Association.  The post is a pilot scheme for a 12 month period, after which, the county must look to sources of funding to continue the post for the lifespan of the 3 year Development Plan.  Many other counties have now formed their own partnerships, and most have also looked to having their own Development Officer as the amount of work entailed in promoting and implementing a successful development has proved to be more than can be expected of the hard-working volunteers that make up the majority of the partnership steering groups and sub committees.  Gloucestershire aims to make the pilot scheme as successful as possible and to provide a template for further counties to follow.

Jamie Woodford                                                                

Regional & County County Development Officer