PGA Members Cox and Crump win big at England Golf Awards

Aaron Cox and Hannah Crump have reason to celebrate after winning top accolades at the annual England Golf Awards for their efforts in growing the game of golf.

Cox was named Participation and Development Coach of the Year at the 2022 awards in recognition of his outstanding achievements working with juniors.

Crump’s success in introducing beginner female golfers to the game she loves helped earn her the title of Women and Girls Trailblazer.

Cox has helped revive the junior section at Blackwell Grange Golf Club in Darlington in his role as the facility’s assistant professional.

More than 120 children are involved in the club’s academy structure and the presence of so many enthusiastic juniors around the academy has helped energise the whole club, making it one of the most vibrant set-ups in the country.

With Cox’s help, a new six-hole academy course was constructed on site, allowing ‘on-course’ teaching to youngsters. The staging of ‘Mini Majors’ – complete with a mini Masters Green Jacket and pint-sized Claret jug – has proved a huge hit with junior golfers.

The boys and girls who enrol for lessons are taught according to Cox's ‘Junior Development Book’ which takes kids through a seven-stage process of learning the game of golf.

Developing skills

This process includes topics ranging from developing skills and undertaking challenges to the mental and physical aspects of the sport, all in a fun environment.

"I just wanted kids to play golf as we had the facilities at Blackwell Grange," said Cox. “It was then up to me to try and retain them and to create a product that the kids and parents would believe in. And also to make sure the kids could see themselves getting better.

“Golf gives kids the confidence to talk to their peers, to talk with adults and members.

“It’s also about discipline. If the kids follow the processes I’ve taught them over three years then they believe the process and trust it and get confidence doing it. Confidence then goes into the classroom and home and when they are among other kids.

“You also have to make it fun for them at the end of the day.”

Female initiatives

Crump impressed the judges not only with her enthusiasm for her sport, but also the results she has achieved in a relatively short space of time.

In her five years as coach, Crump has helped introduce more than 1,000 women to golf and has targeted another 300 beginners in 2022 alone.

The 31-year currently engages with 50 junior girls via a junior coaching programme at Stonebridge Golf Club and another 70 women take part in regular sessions.

Outside of the club, Crump's determination to encourage golfers from sections of the community under-represented in the game also caught the eye of the judging panel.

In recent times, Crump has devoted time and energy to working with the Girls in Golf Society – a group dedicated to encouraging women from the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy the social and competitive side of the sport. A free taster session for Muslim women attracted 80 participants and was a roaring success.

Crump has also linked up successfully with like-minded enthusiasts at love.golf which aims to provide an empowering group coaching experience for women looking to explore their potential in a friendly and fun environment.

After being named as the first recipient of the Trailblazer award, Crump said: “For me being a female PGA coach and knowing that there’s not many of us, it drives my passion to grow the game for females and make it fun.

“For me that’s everything. I love doing it and I want to make the female golf world as strong as I can.

“From the outside golf can be unattractive to women. When I do a taster session they always look so scared! But I love that. I know that when they leave they will feel the opposite. The minute they do it they love it.”

PGA Professionals also played a key role in helping Hazel Grove being crowned 2022 Club of the Year.

The Cheshire facility impressed the judges with the wide range of activities on offer that has made the club a hub for locals in the Stockport area.

PGA Professional and club manager, James Rowlands, commented: “It’s amazing – we’re overwhelmed.

“We put so much work into this in the last two or three years to build up the club.

“We’ve re-structured the management board, we introduced equality and inclusivity in our competitions and we’ve worked with community groups and pushed to get SafeGolf and the Women in Golf Charter.”

CLICK HERE to watch the full England Golf Award ceremony.

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