Welcome to the Essex Golf Partnership, an alliance between the Essex County Golf Union, The Essex Ladies County Golf Association and the Essex Professional Golfers' Association.
Funded by Sport England, The Partnership's objective is to introduce the game of golf to beginners and encourage people to play golf more often.
The Partnership can offer assistance to individuals of any age interested in learning to play, golfers who want to play more or improve their game and to golf clubs and driving ranges looking for advice and guidance to boost their membership, apply for grants, workshops and link to schools.
Golf facilities around the county can also utilise the Partnership's website and communication network to promote specific activities.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
During the course of the year, The Partnership will also roll-out it's own initiatives to reinforce this great game
The Essex Golf Partnership has a Steering Committee made up of representatives of the three partner organisations, as follows:
Essex Golf Union - Cliff Crook (Treasurer), Keith Mitchell
Essex Ladies Association Pat Garner, Maureen Crosbie
Essex PGA - Tom Hide (Chairman), Sarah Bennett
County Development Officer - Helen Tarttelin
Origins
In 2004, Sport England (who distribute Lottery money to English Sport) designated golf as one of the top 10 sports in the country and asked EGU, ELGA and PGA to produce a 'Whole Sport for Golf' which covered all elements of the game - amateur, professional, men, ladies and juniors. This plan was produced and submitted for funding in February 2005. As a result, Sport England awarded golf £9million for the period 2005 - 2009. This is administered by The England Golf Partnership whose members are EGU, ELGA, PGA with the support of the Golf Foundation and Sport England.
The plan itself consists of three main sections - 'Start', 'Stay' and 'Succeed'. The first two of these sections covers getting people into the game and then retaining them. 'Succeed', as its title implies, deals with the elite end of the game at county and national levels.
In order to implement the 'Whole Sport Plan' at county level, a number of 'pilots' were initiated - BB&O, Northants and Surrey. Partnerships have been formed within those three county unions and Development Plans produced and submitted to EGU/ELGA for funding.
The Essex Golf Partnership was formed in July 2007 and works closely with EGU/ELGA through Regional Development Officer Steven Peet. The Essex Partnership is concerned - mainly - with the 'Start' and 'Stay' elements of the 'Whole Sport Plan'.
