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Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club has become the first in Wales to be awarded the new and improved version of Golf Development Wales’ (GDW) Junior GolfCert accreditation.
The club were awarded the official accreditation by Golf Development Wales Director of Development Hannah McAllister ahead of a hugely successful girl’s golf clinic at the club.
A new version of the scheme was introduced by Golf Development Wales, the development arm of the Golf Union of Wales, this year and Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club are the first club to meet the standard level in Wales.
The Junior GolfCert is a nationally acknowledged accreditation scheme for golf clubs. It provides a framework to help clubs to improve themselves and to ensure that their programmes, policies and procedures are all in line with best practice.
“I am very pleased to be able to award Pyle and Kenfig this first level award, especially on a day where more than 50 girls are enjoying everything this club has to offer,” said McAllister.
“GolfCert aims to ensure that consistent good practice is delivered through all golf club junior development programmes, it ensures that accredited clubs such as P&K are identified and recognised by a national scheme for the good work they do for the sport and their communities.
“We are able to highlight these clubs as exemplars to others in Wales and to provide a focus for the sharing of good practice in terms of working with children and young people.”
Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club were assessed in five key areas; Junior club structure, recruitment and coaching, playing and competition,coach/volunteer recruitment and education and child/adult welfare. The accreditation is made up of two award levels, standard and higher.
The club will now receive a plaque to be displayed in the clubhouse, they will receive promotion on the GDW website, will be recommended by GDW as a junior friendly club and should they go on to achieve the higher award, integrated within this award is the Disability Sport Wales (DSW) insport Ribbon (introductory level).  The clubs that achieve the higher award will automatically achieve this extra accreditation.
Pyle and Kenfig Boys Junior leader Ian Booth commented, “During a fantastic day at P&K at the Girls Clinic, we were extremely proud to be presented with the Golf Development Wales, Junior Golf Certificate and to be the first club in Wales to receive this is fantastic.
“The structure that the certificate provides has been an immense help to us in the club.  We began in late 2015 with 35 junior members, most of whom were inactive.
“Through the endeavors of many people in the club and the co-operation of parents, we now have over 60 members and a further 49 who regularly attend one of four coaching sessions held throughout the week.
“Furthermore, the gender split challenges the norm, with about 33% of these being girls and with the support of GDW, the future for P&K looks very positive.”
Pyle and Kenfig Secretary/Manager Simon Hopkin added, “Receiving this award is fantastic. Pyle and Kenfig is an extremely proactive and forward thinking club when it comes to Junior Golf and to forge a strong partnership with GDW can only develop the game of golf in Wales.
“We will be co-hosting the 121st Amateur Championship in 2016 and hosting the Ladies British Amateur Championship in 2017 where all the top amateurs in the world both men and ladies will be competing on our famous Championship links.
“Again this will be a great opportunity for all Junior golfers in Wales to come and see some of the stars of the future, maybe future Major winners, up close and personal”.
To get more information on Junior GolfCert please contact GDW on 01633 436040 or visit http://beta.juniorgolfguide.org.uk/ .
Picture captions: Golf Union of Wales director of development Hannah McAllister hands the Junior GolfCert accreditation to proud Pyle and Kenfig club captain Roger Parsons.
Hannah McAllister and Roger Parsons Ian Booth (Boys Junior Organiser), Georgia Lewis (GDW Ambassador), Joe Vickery, Dylan Williams (Head Professional), Simon Hopkin (Secretary/Manager), Gwyneth Parsons (Assistant Junior Girls Organiser), Claire Morris (Girls Junior Organiser) .