KINGS Norton Golf Club member Hayley Noel has taken on a key role to help Warwickshire golf clubs grow the game.
She is a new England Golf club support officer and will be helping clubs strengthen their business and attract more players and members.
Noel said: “I’m really excited about this opportunity to work with clubs in Warwickshire, listening to and understanding their business needs. Using that knowledge I can support them to provide the experience their customers want.”
Noel joined England Golf in May after working for a County Sport Partnership for 18 months. She started playing golf at the age of eight and is now a member of Kings Norton Golf Club with a handicap of five.
She completed her degree in Sport Development & Sport Coaching in 2015 at University of Worcester, whilst simultaneously working part-time in a golf shop at a club near her home. She helped the head professional increase their junior section by going out into nearby schools delivering tri golf sessions.
On completion of her degree, Noel joined Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Sport (County Sport Partnership) where her role included working with England Golf, the Warwickshire county development officer and its participation project, Golf for You.
She is enthusiastic about encouraging women, girls and families to play golf as well as improving the image of golf to reduce the stereotypes of the sport.
England Golf’s new strategy for 2017-21, Growing the game of golf in England, focuses on the customer and the importance of providing them with the golfing experience they want, whether that is competitive play, social opportunities or short-format golf which fits into busy lifestyles.
It also has the over-arching aim of encouraging more women and girls into golf. Currently only 15 per cent of club members are women, but research shows that 640,000 women and girls are interested in taking up the sport.
Among the initiatives she will be promoting is the Get into Golf campaign, which offers great value coaching opportunities to new and improving players, and Golf Express, which promotes shorter format golf.
Gavin Anderson, England Golf’s senior regional manager, commented: “I am sure Hayley will be a tremendous asset to the county and will support the clubs to increase participation and club membership.”
