Police inspector Diane Davies has taken over the child protection duties for Golf Development Wales, aiming to keep Welsh golf at the forefront of maintaining safety for juniors and volunteers.

Davies, a detective inspector in the serious crime unit of Dyfed Powys police, has a very simple approach to the role – aiming to maintain the standards she would consider safe for her 8-year-old boy who is a keen golfer in Welshpool.

Fellow policeman Mike Rees played a major role in putting golf at the forefront of Welsh sport in their child protection policies, winning awards both nationally and within Wales, before handing over the position because of work commitments.

Davies has considerable experience through her police training to maintain the good work which is aimed at creating a safe environment for junior golfers at clubs throughout Wales, as well as protecting those volunteers who make it all possible.

“My motive in becoming involved is my 8-year-old boy who plays golf, so what would you want to be in place for him to be safe,” explained 40-year-old Davies.

“Golf is a fantastic sport for life, there is individual performance, the team element, good life skills and etiquette as well as a social side, so it is a good thing to encourage kids to do.

“The standard I apply is my own personal standard to make sure everything is as I would want for my son. Mike has done a lot of good work and now I aim to build on that.

“I have had some experience in child protection through my work and I keep up to date with the best practices and legal side of things.

“We aim to protect volunteers as well, if people take a common sense approach then they are not usually too far off track but it is helpful to have the structures in place and the advice to call on.

“The Golf Union of Wales have created a good policy, so that template is there for people to use – there is no point in re-inventing the wheel.

“That also gives parents confidence that there is a good, safe environment.”

Golf Development Wales was one of nine top sporting bodies commended for achieving the NSPCC’s child protection in sports standards.

The successful sports have been working towards achieving standards within the national child protection framework. The framework provides practical support for sporting organisations and groups throughout Wales to help raise child protection standards within their sport.