Golfing bodies to give £20,000 to promote Sussex golf

THE newly formed Sussex Golf Partnership is to receive £20,000 to help promote the game.

The Sussex County Golf Union and Sussex Ladies' Golf Association have joined forces with the Professional Golfers' Association to follow those counties already operating the scheme.

There are more than 40,000 golfers in Sussex from 67 affiliated clubs and some are faced with falling membership.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But many golfers are not members of a club and the partnership is aimed at presenting the game to a wider public. Roadshows will be held at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club on July 23 and Ham Manor Golf Club, on August 12.

To fund these and other activities towards a county development plan, 20,000 has been donated by English Golf Union and English Women's Golf Association.

A committee comprising the various organisations concerned is chaired by Kerry Scott, last year's Sussex captain.

The partnership breaks more than 100 years of tradition in Sussex as, for the first time, all golf-related bodies will be working together.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That allows Sussex to qualify for funding via the English Golf Union and the English Women's Golf Association, the Golf Foundation and the English Schools Golf Association. Local authorities and county sports organisations can get involved.

"The original initiative came from Sport England, which has been making grants to clubs," said Mr Scott. "They wanted to deal with one body rather than separate deserving cases for assistance. We will be setting up opportunities for players of all standards and ages to develop their golf through competitive and enjoyable activities.

"We have a wide-ranging group on the committee to help more people into golf and get clubs more actively involved."

The partnership will also provide a commercial platform for companies and businesses to associate their brand with golfers.

Related topics: