£10,000 award helps club tee up more young players

Jun 19 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

ALNMOUTH have made a ground-breaking change by opening a shorter than usual short course.

The four-hole par-three course, built by head greenkeeper Jim Storey and his staff, is providing beginners with an easier step-up than normal in progressing from basic coaching and the practice ground to the main course.

Alnmouth, also known as Foxton Hall, are about to embark on a series of tri-golf taster sessions in schools, using plastic clubs and sponge balls, to encourage youngsters to have a go.

In April, Alnmouth’s junior section were awarded £10,000 by Awards for All, a lottery grants scheme, and now the club have been advised by the English Golf Union they have become the first club in North Northumberland to attain the Golfmark/Clubmark award. This is a national accreditation in recognition of their achievements with their juniors in areas of coaching and playing, club environment, child protection and duty of care. This has been made possible by a team of club volunteers led by junior liaison officer Katie Macfarlane, the ladies section secretary Sue Brierley and golfer Ally Hansen, who has been playing in this week’s England seniors tournament in Sussex.

The Awards for All grant is being directed towards a specific project which will provide introductory and improvers’ golf sessions for girls.

The sessions will be led by the club’s lady professional, Linzi Hardy, with the assistance of club volunteers, also trained under the scheme.

Alnmouth regularly cater for 50 juniors at their free coaching sessions and several youngsters have seen their handicaps improve. Secretary-manager Peter Simpson said: “We are already recognised as the jewel in the crown of Northumberland golf courses. Whether you are five or 75, the club aim to be the golf club of choice for all golfers in the North East.”