Bradley Park make mark with double!

GROUND-BREAKING Bradley Park Golf Club have just pulled off a magnificent double after becoming one of the first municipal clubs in the country to receive the GolfMark Award and the Clubmark Award.

The GolfMark Award, presented by the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), and the Clubmark, presented by UK Sport, are handed out in recognition of the hard work and dedication to both junior and beginners golf through child protection, coaching and sports equality.

“It has certainly not been easy, but we are absolutely over the moon to get the awards,” said present captain and junior organiser Keith Waddington, who has been a big part of Bradley Park attaining the accolade.

“A lot of credit must also go to our past captain Bob Kemp, who re-formed the junior section just four years ago, after it had previously gone into decline, and Richard Kaye, who is also a past captain and our immediate past president.

“Richard was the man with the vision towards GolfMark, and it was he who was the driving force in our pursuit of the award, while I simply acted as the work-way to do it.”

The GolfMark award integrates Sport England’s Clubmark which is a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country. More than 20 other sports are involved and over 5,000 clubs.

GolfMark evaluates golf clubs on three areas within their junior section: coaching & playing; club environment, including sports equity and ethics and child protection and duty of care.

Bradley Park are one of a handful of municipal clubs with the award and are the only club in the Halifax/Huddersfield Union to hold it.

“West End did have the award, but unfortunately let it lapse, and it only lasts for three years before you need to re-apply,” added Waddington.

“To gain the awards certain standards have to be reached and structures put in place, and those have to be maintained as they are constantly being monitored.

“Now I think we are rightly proud of what we have achieved with a flourishing junior section, which includes five girls (two of whom have official CONGU handicaps).”