29
March
2023
Several GCMA members picked up honours at the annual Wales Golf Awards, which recently took place at Celtic Manor. The Wales Golf Awards, recognising the best in Welsh golf, returned last week after a four year gap. The awards - held in the glittering surroundings of the Twenty Ten clubhouse at Celtic Manor - celebrated all levels of Welsh golf from junior participation through to management and golfer of the year. Conwy general manager - and GCMA member - Matthew Parsley earned the Club Manager of the Year Award after overseeing a period of exciting initiatives to modernise one of the top traditional golf clubs in Wales. “It is a lovely honour to get this award,” said Parsley. “A lot of it is down to the foresight of the Board and committee that wanted to move the club forward, modernise and professionalise how we do things. “I might be the one getting the award, but you are only as good as the people around you and I like to think we have built a good team at Conwy.” Another member - Martin Stevens - accompanied colleagues to the stage as Llanishen were awarded the Club of the Year. The course is significantly more environmentally friendly, the club is committed to focus on under-represented groups such as juniors and ladies and is a proud holder of the Women in Golf Charter. A successful ladies New2Golf scheme has brought in 57 new members, bolstering membership to more than 700, while Llanishen also hosted Wales Golf Finals Week, with all the support from staff and members ensuring a big success. General manager Stevens said, “It really is an honour for the club, the culmination of seven or eight years of hard work. “There are so many clubs across Wales doing brilliant work that it is great to win this, the greatest accolade we can achieve. “We have completely embraced New2Golf and half our ladies membership has come through that scheme, having 120 lady members has transformed that underrepresented section. Then hosting Wales Golf Finals Week was another great accolade.” Nefyn - led by manager and GCMA member Katrina Larkin - were also recognised as the Junior Club of the Year, with one of the strongest junior sections in Wales, 65 boys and 18 girls currently as paid up members of the club, with a strong junior committee to make it all possible. Congratulations from the GCMA to Matthew, Martin and Katrina, as well as all all the other winners. The full list of winners were: Welsh Club Manager of the Year, supported by the GCMA – Matt Parsley, Conwy Golf Club Welsh Golf Club of the Year, Supported by Howden – Llanishen Golf Club Volunteer of the Year – Brett Walker, Carmarthen Golf Club Junior Club of the Year, supported by the Golf Foundation – Nefyn Golf Club PGA Development Professional of the Year – Gareth Howell, Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club PING Male Amateur Golfer of the Year – Archie Davies, Carlisle... Please LOGIN to read the full article.
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