GolfMark

What is Golf Mark?
GolfMark (incorporating ClubMark) is the national scheme that identifies and recognises junior and beginner friendly golf facilities.  The EGU/EWGA has incorporated ClubMark into the GolfMark scheme to prevent the duplication of effort by clubs meaning one process and one set of paperwork. ClubMark is Sport England’s cross sport accreditation, awarded by National governing bodies, such as the EGU/EWGA to proven high quality sports clubs with junior sections.

GolfMark accreditation assesses three key areas of junior development within a club which are Coaching & Playing, Club Environment and Child Protection & Duty of Care. The scheme is a development tool for golf clubs that has the potential to link a number of ideas together in a structured way to strive towards ‘the ideal’. The accreditation is valid for 3years after which clubs must complete a full re-assessment.

Any golf club affiliated to the EGU/EWGA may apply to gain the GolfMark (incorporating ClubMark) award.  Clubs within Durham County will be supported during the accreditation process by the County Development Officer who can provide help and support in gathering evidence to support their application as well as share examples of best practice from around the County.

What are the benefits of attaining GolfMark status?
Working through the accreditation process demonstrates a club’s commitment to junior golf which can in turn help to achieve an increased and sustainable membership.

There are a host of benefits to a club attaining GolfMark which include increased funding opportunities, additional coaching grants and training for volunteers. There is also a Rewards and Recognition package available to golf clubs ‘upon application’ and upon accreditation’ which includes a plaque, website promotion and other means of publicising a clubs’ achievement

What is involved?
After applying at www.golfmark.org and filling in an online self-assessment, a club will be provided with all necessary assessment and evidence information before being contacted by a Development Officer to arrange a pre-assessment meeting.  The Development Officer will provide guidance and support during the process and when confident that the club has provided the evidence required, will submit the club’s evidence file for assessment.  On approval, the club will receive a Development Report along with a GolfMark certificate, ClubMark certificate and plaque.

What is GolfMark High Achiever status?
To achieve GolfMark, golf clubs need to meet minimum standards in each of the three assessment areas. Clubs wishing to obtain High Achiever status are required to meet additional conditions over and above those minimum standards required for GolfMark.  High Achiever status can be gained upon award of GolfMark or upon 3year renewal.  Your Development Officer will be able to advise you on what criteria you will need to meet to achieve this status.

How can I find out more?
GolfMark has its own dedicated website www.golfmark.org which provides all the information that a club should require however, The Durham County Development Officer is happy to discuss any queries you may have and discuss the application process further.  Contact details can be found on the contacts page of this website.

RangeMark

The role of driving ranges is fundamental to golf development in England and clearly they are the starting point for the majority of newcomers to this great game, providing a variety of coaching and practice opportunities.

RangeMark has been created to recognise those stand-alone ranges that are at the forefront of developing the game and this initiative has been developed and refined ‘by golf ranges for golf ranges’. By registering for the RangeMark initiative, ranges will gain access to the following benefits:

• Enhancing your business opportunities through EGU Golf Central.
• Promotion of your range through the EGU/EWGA.
• Access to coaching grants once accredited.
• Access to the Skills activities and resources.
• Recognition within the local community.
• Opportunity to create links with local clubs.
• Ongoing support from a network of Regional Development Officers

Following consultation with stand-alone ranges, the EGU/EWGA are now giving driving ranges the opportunity to register for RangeMark. The registration package is as follows:

• Register for £300 (every 3 years) to receive a complete package, including accreditation process, EGU Golf Central listing, dedicated Officer support, plus a variety of EGU/EWGA resources.

More information on RangeMark including the full assessment criteria can be found at www.golfmark.org

National Skills Challenge

The National Skills Challenge is a great way for junior golfers of all ages to improve their playing skills and compete against others.  Challenge events are held at golf clubs all over the country giving young players a chance to progress onto the Regional and National Finals.

The National Skills Challenge is broken into 2 separate Challenges:
 
The Rookie Challenge – for juniors under 12 years of age, divided into 2 groups:
• 8 years and under
• 9 to 11 years

The Tour Challenge – for juniors aged 12 to 17 years of age, divided into 2 groups:
• 12 to 14 years
• 15 to 17 years

The Rookie and Tour Challenges each consist of 10 different tests based on five golfing disciplines: 
• Putting
• Chipping
• Pitching
• Bunker play
• Full swing

It is hoped that these challenges will encourage junior players to improve their golf, increase their enjoyment of the game and encourage them to practice the skills required to complete each test. Frequent and structured coaching will allow juniors to develop as players and increase their overall Challenge results.

Junior golfers looking to find their nearest participating club and clubs interested in registering to hold events can find more information at www.getintogolf.org/skills/ 

Golf Roots

Golf Roots is the name given by the Golf foundation to its National Development project which incorporates community activity in schools and clubs as well as projects that target inner city and urban areas.

Having increased the percentage of schools delivering golf in England from 14% in 2003/4 to 42% in 2008/2009, the Golf foundation will be working hard in 2010 to encourage more schools to offer golf as a curricular and extracurricular activity.  The percentage of schools linked to clubs in England has also seen an increase from 9% in 2003/4 to 26% in 2008/9 with the aim this year of supporting more clubs with their programmes targeted at young beginners.

‘Golf Roots’ already has the support of all the mayor governing bodies in golf including the EGU, the EWGA and the PGA in its goal of giving 1million youngsters per year the chance to experience golf!

To find out how your school, club or community can get involved in a Golf Roots project or offer yourself as a much needed volunteer please contact John Wood (Regional Development Officer for the Golf foundation) on (07766) 883004.