National accolade for family-run club

A family-run club in Shropshire has received a national honour in recognition of its junior and beginner friendly facilities. 

Cleobury Mortimer has been awarded GolfMark, a national seal of approval for junior and beginner friendly facilities, after a successful submission led by head PGA Professional Robert Watkins and junior organiser Richard Chandler.  

The club – which is based on the border with Worcestershire - has introduced a wide range of schemes for would-be golfers of all ages and abilities. 

Central to this is the thriving junior section, which offers year-round coaching with Watkins and a membership scheme that sees young players pay reduced fees up to the age of 24. Two-time Worcestershire Amateur champion Josh Carpenter, 21, is one of many to have come through the system. 

Watkins, along with junior organiser Chandler, spearheaded the club’s GolfMark initiative, which has seen the club working in local schools at both primary and secondary level as well as encouraging local community groups, such as scouts, to give golf a go.

The club also has a link with the neighbouring Pioneer Centre, which works with inner city children to offer them a range of activities in the countryside, while they supported this year’s Midlands Golf Week, which offered taster sessions and discounted coaching to would-be golfers of all ages.

The club, which has been owned by the Pain family since 1993, plans to become a Get into Golf centre, while it also has a deal with local gym group Team Leisure that delivers membership offers and the chance to promote golf to gym users.

David Pain, who heads up the marketing, website and digital media side of the club alongside his brother Tom, said: “Richard and Rob put a lot of hard work into achieving GolfMark on behalf of the club and we will use this as a platform for continuing development for the future.

“The juniors are the future of the game – and potential club members for a long time – while we also want the mums and dads to come along, get involved and use the course or facilities. 

“GolfMark means that any parent bringing their child to Cleobury Mortimer knows we have the right duty of care policies in place and that it is a safe place.

“The juniors who have come through the ranks here have done so much to raise the profile of the club and we are looking forward to helping develop the next generation.”

GolfMark is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and EWGA via the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of the England Golf Partnership’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.

Further information on Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club can be found by visiting www.cleoburygolfclub.co.uk.