hot off the press  - 2016

Frinton-on-Sea Golf club in Essex, which is backing the drive to grow the game, is the first golf club in Essex to win the new national GolfMark award from England Golf.

GolfMark is England Golf’s official seal of approval for clubs successfully working to develop their business in such ways as:

• Attracting new members and encouraging existing members to play more
• Using practical business planning to develop the club
• Offering appropriate coaching and playing opportunities for all standards of golfer
• Ensuring all necessary safeguarding policies are in place for the junior section

Frinton Golf Club was founded in 1895 and boasts a fantastic 18-hole seaside Havers course designed by the famous course architect Harry S Colt and a 9-hole par 30 Kirby course. The club whilst traditional, is modern in its outlook and offers a variety of membership opportunities which appeal to the regular golfer, beginner or social golfer.

Frinton is a popular destination for holiday golfers, casual green fee golfers and societies and are all are equally welcome at this very hospitable club.

Equally the club prides itself on having a great team of PGA professional coaches, who engage with the local community offering a variety of creative coaching offers to attract juniors and beginner adult golfers.

6 Clubs hosted Girls Golf Rocks in spring/summer 2016. It was year two of a very successful initiative to attract more girls into golf. Here's a taste of what it was all about, and how our county girls have been supporting the programme. For more information call Helen on 07971 097976

It’s all change at the top in Essex golf as Roger Attrill steps down after six years as chairman of the County Development Group.
He has handed over to Alan Walker, the owner of the award-winning Garon Park complex in Southend and a PGA Master professional.
Attrill, who was previously the secretary at Frinton Golf Club, has overseen many changes and development during his time in office, working closely with representatives of the county union and association, the PGA, Golf Foundation and Active Essex. Highlights of the past six years include the introduction of 3200 people to golf coaching courses through Get into golf and Swing into Swing; and the successful nomination of three England Golf award winners. Garon Park was the 2013 GolfMark Club of the Year; Tom Hide and Scott Rusbridge of Coastal Golf won the 2014 Participation Award; and Jan Tallentire of Warley Park won the 2015 Participation Award. Stoke by Nayland were runners-up in the 2010 GolfMark Club of the Year.
Attrill’s achievements also included creating and chairing the first Essex Development Forum, bringing clubs together to talk seriously about ‘Growing Golf’. Get into Golf was subsequently launched in the county that summer.
He commented: “The Development Group is now firmly established and recognised as the organisation responsible for the growth of the game of golf in Essex. Our initiatives are producing positive results and showing more and more people are enjoying the game.
“I am delighted to be handing over to Alan Walker, who will bring considerable knowledge and experience to the Development Group, as a PGA Master Professional and a businessman in the golf industry.”
Alan Walker said: “Golf is a sport that can be played and enjoyed at all levels and by all age groups. The Essex Golf Development Group is there to actively assist golf clubs with the creation of new golfers, increasing the participation of golf and retaining those golfers already playing. Together with our County Development Officer, Helen Tarttelin, and our committee representatives we look forward to increasing the numbers of golfers in our county.”
Caption: Alan Walker (left) thanks Roger Attrill for his contribution to Essex golf.

Essex golfer Jan Tallentire has been so successful at encouraging other women to take up the game that she’s won a top England Golf award.
Jan, from Warley Park Golf Club, near Brentwood, was presented with the Participation Award at a gala dinner last night at the England Golf annual conference, which celebrated the golfers and golf clubs who make the game great and inspire others to play.
The award recognises Jan’s remarkable drive to inspire new women players. In just two years her efforts have given a taste of the game to around 170 women, more than 40 have signed up for Get into golf coaching courses and 26 have taken out a special nine-hole membership at the club.
She said: “I feel extremely honoured to receive this award, but for me the pleasure has been seeing many of the lady beginners carrying on playing as a group, and enjoying the game we love so much.
“New friends have been made, partnerships established and competitions played. It has been so very rewarding. Whereas it is often seems difficult for ladies to get into golf, I decided to take golf to the ladies. The results have been wonderful.”

Girls Golf Rocks 2016 is underway this Easter holiday at 6 golf centres across Essex. For more information please see link (right).

Girls’ golf is about to get rocking – and Essex is leading the way in the campaign to inspire new, young players.
Girls Golf Rocks was trialled in the county last year and inspired 90 girls to try golf. It was so successful that it’s returning to Essex this spring and also being run in eight other counties.
Girls Golf Rocks is all about encouraging beginners to have fun, learn a new sport, get active and play alongside friends – with no pressure. Girl golfers from county squads will act as ambassadors, sharing their enjoyment and inspiring other girls, aged five to 18.
This year’s campaign tees off with free taster sessions, supported by the county girls, at the six clubs taking part: The Rayleigh Club on 3 April; Playgolf Colchester and Three Rivers Golf & Country Club on 8 April; West Essex Golf Club on 8 and 9 April; Garon Park Golf Complex and Little Channels Golf Club on 10 April.