The Future Financial's Welsh Golf Awards 2011

Future Financials

 

 

The Future Financial's Welsh Golf Awards took place at a luncheon held at the Celtic Manor on 20th December 2011. The awards were sponsored by Future Financials, a Cardiff based Welsh company which provides Golf Clubs with a facility that enables their members to pay their annual subscriptions by monthly direct debit payments, rather than in one large annual payment. For more information please go to www.futurefinancials.co.uk .  

Details of winners are listed below:-

Carmarthen Pick up Top Award

Carmarthen has been recognised for turning round its fortunes by being made the Welsh Golf Club of the Yearat the Golf Union of Wales Awards.

The club were presented with the award by Bob Sutton, marketing director of sponsor Future Financials in a ceremony at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, coming out on top in what was the strongest ever entry for this section.

Six clubs were shortlisted along with Carmarthen, Aberdovey, Glyneath, Holywell, Langland Bay, Maesteg and Welshpool, but the West Wales club was the outstanding candidate for the way they have transformed their fortunes.

Carmarthen won the award for a remarkable turnaround. In the club's centenary year in 2007 they were struggling, membership numbers were declining and members were critical of the course.

In 2008 the club showed a loss of £23,000, but then started a programme of change which has seen it change to the extent that this year a profit of £40,000 is anticipated, despite doubling their overheads having hired director of golf Darren Griffiths and administrator Gemma Voaden.

Membership has increased by more than 100 as they have taken advantage of Golf Union of Wales and Ryder Cup Wales schemes, spending money in the right areas.

They built a new driving range and fitting centre, thanks to a Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Grant, invested in the quality of the greens and standard of the course, improved the catering, established a cluster agreement with local clubs and hotels, introduced an online tee booking system, among many other membership and visitor initiatives which have given them a modern, dynamic corporate image.

“It is absolutely fantastic for a small club like Carmarthen to be recognised in this way on the national stage,” said captain Phil Lewis.

“We had to change the way we were thinking as a club to fit in with the modern way of life, so to get a prize for it from the Golf Union of Wales is the icing on top of the cake without any shadow of doubt.

“Four years ago we were showing a deficit in our accounts, this year we are projecting a profit of around £40,000. We took some brave decisions to recruit different people and we have a terrific director of golf in Darren Griffiths, a thriving junior section and in a few years time there will be some really good golfers coming through our ranks.

“The condition of the course has improved, our reputation is now great and there is much more camaraderie in the club – we have gone a long way in a short period of time.

“We are bucking the trend a little bit because our numbers are increasing. We have had to think differently in terms of the memberships we have available, including occasional membership for people who could not pay the full fee because they were not playing enough.”

Future Financials marketing director Bob Sutton presented the award and added, “It is rewarding for sponsors to see such development within Welsh golf.

“When Carmarthen were struggling a few years ago, they could have taken a defeatist attitude but in fact they did the opposite when faced with adversity.

“Their progress is based on making the quality of the course and the club something more attractive to members, as well as developing the facilities and the membership structure.”    

 

PONTY'S PICKERING IS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Pontypridd junior organiser Ian Pickering picked up recognition for the vast amount of work he does to help juniors by being named the Volunteer of the Year at the Golf Union of Wales Awards.

He was presented with the award by Golf Union of Wales President Louise Fleet in a ceremony at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, sponsored by Future Financials.

Pickering dedicates a huge amount of his time to ensure children in the Pontypridd community have the opportunity to try and play golf in a fun and safe environment.

His achievements at the club form a lengthy list, including helping Pontypridd to become a Junior Golfcert accredited club, he runs Mini Masters and Shelter Cymru events along with many junior social events.

He has established a thriving junior girl’s section which is integrated with the boys, has dramatically improved the communication with juniors and their parents, while also finding time to take the junior section to the 2010 Ryder Cup and Wales Open.

“It is a great honour to get an award like this and I was delighted to collect it on behalf of the team of people at Pontypridd,” said Pickering, who is also heavily involved with Glamorgan County with both boys and girls.

“You do not do this sort of thing for recognition, to be honest just seeing the faces of the kids is all the reward you need.

“We have come a long way in a short time and a lot of people have put in the effort to get us there, but it is really nice to come to an awards dinner like this and be recognised by the Golf Union of Wales.”

Golf Union of Wales President Louise Fleet presented the award and added, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our golf clubs in Wales and Ian is a great example of what can be done.

“It is great to be able recognise someone like Ian who puts in so many hours without looking for recognition. The work he has done in making golf safe and accessible for both boys and girls in the Pontypridd area is outstanding.

“It is vital to get accredited through the Junior Golfcert scheme so parents, children and volunteers know the junior golf is structured through a safe environment for all concerned.

“Communication is also often an area which is overlooked, so it is good to see Ian has made such huge strides forward in that area, keeping parents informed through weekly e-mails on junior activities, as well as a website and newsletter. He also initiates numerous fund-raising events to support junior golf.”

 

JAMIE IS WALES' TOUR PRO OF THE YEAR

European Tour star Jamie Donaldson has been recognised for his superb form this season by receiving the Tour Professional of the Year titleat the Golf Union of Wales Awards.

He was presented with the award by Golf Union of Wales chairman of teams and performance Andy Ingram in a ceremony at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, sponsored by Future Financials.

He follows in the footsteps of Wales World Cup colleague Rhys Davies, who won this award last year, and former Masters champion Ian Woosnam who was recognised in 2008.

Donaldson is a product of the Welsh golfing system, winning the Welsh Amateur matchplay and strokeplay championships, a regular Wales international where he often partnered current Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards. Born in Pontypridd, he now lives in Macclesfield.

He represented Great Britain and Ireland in the World Amateur Team of 200 alongside current world No 1 Luke Donald and Paul Casey.

He has won three times on the Challenge Tour, but it was this season he made even greater progress on the European Tour with eight top 10 finishes, eventually coming 38th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

He forced his way into the top 100 of the World Rankings, played a starring role in the victorious GB and I team in the Seve Trophy and partnered Davies to 8th place in the World Cup in China.

“It was a good year, just a few shots here and there away from being a very good year,” said Donaldson.

“It is always great to receive an award like this and certainly I had a lot of good times playing for Wales as an amateur coming up through the ranks.

“Next year the target is to improve again and I would love to get into the Ryder Cup team. I know that will be difficult as I am outside the world's top 50, but it is possible and I will certainly do my best to try and make it happen.

“I had a taste of it at the Seve Trophy and really enjoyed being part of a team, it was like in the amateur days.”

Golf Union of Wales chairman of teams and performance, Andy Ingram, presented the award and added, “Jamie is a credit to Welsh golf as he performs on the highest stages in the European Tour.

“He has come through the ranks and was a successful amateur for Wales, but after turning pro was set back by a debilitating back injury.

“He has battled back through hard work and dedication, steadily improving his ranking in the last few years since getting back onto the European Tour in 2008, finishing 89th, 59th, 46th and then 38th this year.

“The next stage is to add to his three wins on the Challenge Tour by winning on the European Tour – he has been very close on several occasions so I am sure it is only a matter of time. Hopefully 2012 will be the year.”

 

RHYS AND AMY SHARE AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Two of Welsh golf's brightest young stars shared top honours as Rhys Pugh and Amy Boulden were jointly recognised at the Welsh Amateur Golfers of the Year at the Golf Union of Wales Awards.

The award was announced by Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards in a ceremony at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, the first time this award has been given jointly because the judges decided their achievements could not be separated.

The two 18-year-olds were both unbeaten in matches against the United States, Boulden claiming two and a half points out of three in the Junior Solheim Cup while Pugh claimed a perfect three out of three on his Walker Cup debut under the captaincy of Edwards.

Apart from competing for Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup, Llandudno/Maesddu's Boulden also represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Astor Trophy and the Vagliano Trophy, was runner-up in the Welsh Ladies Amateur and reached the semi-final of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship.

An amazingly consistent years was capped off by coming second in the Royal Birkdale Ladies and Tenby Scratch, third in the Welsh Ladies Stroke Play Championship and fourth in the Ladies British Open Stroke Play Championship.

Pugh was also the winner of the Carwyn James Young Sportsman of the Year Award at the BBC Wales Sports Personality show, an award previously given to Boulden, and was the Irish Open Stroke Play Champion.

He was the runner-up in the Welsh Men's Amateur Championship, won the Pinnacle Welsh Order of Merit and the Hugh James Boys Order of Merit.

He was ninth in the European Men's Individual Championship, second in the Trubshaw Cup, third in the Peter McEvoy Trophy and fourth in the St David's Gold Cross.

Both represented the Wales teams in the European Team Championships and the Home Internationals.

“Amy had an outstanding year and with just a couple of things going her way it could have been even better,” said Bennett.

“She has a really good attitude to the game, she works really hard and will often be out there practising first thing in the morning.

“She was our leader in the Home Internationals and really showed what she can do in some of those games against some of the other best amateurs in the UK.”

Pugh is now studying on a golf scholarship in America, but was delighted to receive the award on his return to Wales. “It is a great honour to receive this recognition, it has been a good year with the highlight being the Walker Cup,” he said.

“It was great to play in and do well. I just kept playing and was confident I could do well. I am enjoying the new challenge in America, it is different golf, hopefully going on to turn professional after getting my degree in four years.”

Golf Union of Wales director of player development and coaching Edwards added, “This is the first time the award has ever been given jointly, but the committee which selects the winner found it impossible to split these two.

“They are two of the shining lights of Welsh golf's future, with plenty of time on their side to make even more of an impact in the amateur game before enjoying successful professional careers.

“There is no doubt that they were at their most impressive in their respective matches against the United States and to have two young Welsh golfers going through those competitions unbeaten, both playing three times, really is quite a record for us to savour.”

 

RHONDDA'S DAVID POCOCK IS GOLF DEVELOPMENT WALES' PRO OF THE YEAR

Rhondda golf pro David Pocockpicked up recognition for the vast amount of work he does to help juniors by being named the Club Professional of the Year at the Golf Union of Wales Awards.

He was presented with the award by Golf Development Wales chairman Andy Morgan in a ceremony at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, sponsored by Future Financials.

Pocock, has only been in the job 18 months but already he has made a massive impact on golf in the area, providing coaching at 30 schools and coaching more than 100 juniors at Rhondda GC.

“It is a lovely achievement, really nice, because we have done a lot with the kids this year and it is nice to see them developing,” said Pocock.

“We have all got the same passion for developing the kids, the help makes it really easy. We ave come a long way and just shows what can be done with a little bit of hard work, the right facilities and an abundance of kids.

“The work Golf Development Wales do makes it very, very easy. They are there for advice, funding and support, Zoe Thacker there has been brilliant for our golf club.

“We have got the biggest junior academy in Wales now and let us see if we can do it in the UK, there is no reason why we cannot do that.

“There is a lot of negativity about the valleys and it goes to show that the kids can achieve their dreams.

“Rhys Pugh has become a role model for these kids, as many of them have heard of him as Tiger Woods, so it is phenomenal. Four out of the six awards today having links to Rhondda, Cynon Taff shows how strong golf is in the Welsh valleys – probably the strongest it has ever been.”

He has delivered six Junior Leader Workshops for Golf Development Wales and local clubs, along with several Tri-Golf activator courses for GDW.

He has also co-organised 40 children from France, Poland, Germany and Wales in a Rhondda Cynon Taff International Youth Exchange. These children created business plans for the Rhondda Junior Golf Academy and also took part in a Tri-Golf activators and Junior Leader Workshop – they are now delivering courses in their retrospective countries.

Pocock has embarked on a charitable project with Valleys Kids where two teenagers are being mentored to deliver level one coaching to less privileged children in the local area, he is the coach to the Rhondda Golf Club Junior Golf Team which won the Glamorgan County Championship, started Rhondda Cynon Taff development squads at under 13 and 15 level and provided 3 months of free coaching to around 60 children and 10 free lessons to 30 beginner ladies as part of a business partnership with Hutchings Vauxhall.

Around 20 of these beginner ladies have taken up membership at Rhondda Golf Club as part of the club's new lady member offer. On top of all that, Pocock has been appointed as a Glamorgan County nursery squad coach.

Golf Development Wales chairman Andy Morgan presented the award and added, “Professionals can lead their clubs in a positive way – and David has certainly achieved that in Rhondda golf club.

“It is a remarkable list of achievements with a reach all over Europe, while still putting in a huge amount of positive work at home.

“There is a vast amount of positive work going into grass roots golf all around Wales under the umbrella of Golf Development Wales, but this is certainly as outstanding example of what can be done with a high degree of skill and enthusiasm.

“David has achieved a lot in terms of increasing participation, but has also shown great skill in developing the elite end with the success of his junior teams. We look forward to seeing further progress on both counts.