The event welcomed more than 450 guests for an evening of recognition, inspiration, and celebration.
Luffenham Heath Golf Club and Henbury Golf Club were among the winners at the 2026 England Golf Awards, earning national recognition for excellence in tournament hosting and for driving meaningful cultural change within their memberships.
Luffenham Heath was named Tournament Venue of the Year in acknowledgement of its outstanding delivery of the 2025 Carris Trophy and its growing reputation as a championship-standard host venue.
The accolade reflects a week in which the club combined detailed planning, strong leadership and an army of committed volunteers to create an exceptional experience for players, officials and spectators alike.
“We are incredibly proud to be named Tournament Venue of the Year,” said Club Manager Tom Sharpe. “This recognition reflects the tireless efforts of our entire team. My sincere thanks go to our dedicated staff, who truly embraced the occasion, as well as to the 100+ volunteers who gave their time so generously and passionately.
“My personal thanks go to Toby, Emily and everyone at England Golf for such a superb working relationship throughout. We are especially proud to showcase what Luffenham Heath Golf Club is all about — a commitment to going above and beyond to create a memorable experience for everyone involved.”
Operations throughout the championship were seamless. The course was presented in immaculate condition each day by the course manager and greenkeeping team, supported by dedicated evening divoting crews to maintain elite standards of playability.
The practice ground was elevated with the introduction of premium balls for competitors, while parking provision was expanded into a neighbouring field to accommodate increased attendance and ensure smooth access.
Inside the clubhouse, service levels remained consistently high despite significant demand, and volunteers were widely praised for their enthusiasm, reliability and rapport with competitors. Thoughtful touches, including a dedicated history display and multilingual welcome messages, underlined the prestige and international reach of the event.
Henbury secured the Women in Golf Charter Club Award following a year of significant cultural and structural reform. Having signed the Women in Golf Charter in 2024, the club accelerated efforts to address long-standing inequalities, introducing full equal weekend access for the 2025 season and expanding inclusive competition opportunities.
Weekend competitions open to all increased substantially, including first-time access for women to longstanding flagship events, while female representation across board and committee roles rose sharply. Targeted recruitment initiatives have helped grow the Women’s Section to 140 members, representing 21.5% of the overall membership, with an ambition to reach 25% by 2030.
“We are absolutely delighted for Henbury Golf Club,” said Jill Thorpe, the former Women’s Captain who initiated the club’s Women in Golf Charter commitments. “All the hard work and dedication by those involved has paid off with national recognition.
“This gives us a brilliant platform to encourage more Women and Girls to play golf in an environment that is progressive and welcoming. It also gives us the momentum to continue!”
