Club News

Norwood Park Golf Centre in Nottinghamshire hits the mark with national golf accreditation for safeguarding from England Golf

The highly regarded Award Winning Golf Club has just received the ‘SafeGolf’, demonstrating the clubs commitment to safeguarding children and young people, as well as adults in risk in the sport of golf.

Norwood Park Golf already has an extensive history of supporting both County & National initiatives including:

• ‘Get into Golf’ ongoing sessions for Adult Beginners
• ‘Pink Ladies’ Coaching Groups
• ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ Coaching both at the Centre and with outreach work in schools
• Adult Improvers Courses
• Many Disability projects over the years which highlight their true commitment to ‘Growing the Game for all’
• Membership uptake through their pathway and retention continues to very strong

Paul Thornton, General Manager who led the club’s push to SafeGolf, said: “Norwood is a great club, it’s very friendly, welcoming and forward-thinking. This award helps us to spread that message and to tell people that children are safe and secure here and that we understand about beginner golfers. Our Staff have undergone extensive safeguarding training and our Volunteers are well supported. PGA Senior Coach Richard Strange & Golf Development Officer Jackie Macey have been instrumental in achieving SafeGolf”.

Emily Rowbottom England Golf’s Regional Club Support Officer presented the award virtually “I’m delighted that Norwood Park Golf has achieved SafeGolf and that its efforts to grow the game can be nationally recognised.”

The SafeGolf is a partnership of UK golf bodies committed to promoting a safe and positive environment for all those participating, working and volunteering in the sport of golf.

The SafeGolf partnership consists of members from the golfing bodies across Great Britain & Ireland and has been established to help golf respond to the issue of child protection in sport. Its mission is to safeguard the welfare of children and young people, as well as adults at risk, in the sport of golf.

SafeGolf the website – www.safegolf.org – through which anyone with a concern about the welfare of a player, or the behaviour or practice of a coach, volunteer, organiser, parent or a player, can contact the lead safeguarding officer at their national governing body.

SafeGolf is the safeguarding standard England Golf will promote to all their affiliated clubs to ensure all clubs provide a safe and positive experience to children and young people whilst playing golf. The PGA are also using the standards to apply to all their PGA professional Coaches.

‘WOMEN IN GOLF CHARTER’ NORWOOD PARK GOLF FIRST IN NOTTS!

Norwood Park Golf, has been the first club in Nottinghamshire to be acknowledged by the R&A and England Golf.

The progressive Award Winning Club has pledged to drive participation among Women and Girls as well as encouraging more females to pursue a career within the golf industry.

Norwood Park Golf already has an extensive history of supporting both County & National initiatives including:

• Supporting England Golf ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ programme which targets beginner girls aged 7 – 14 years to learn golf in a fun and friendly way. Norwood was a pilot Centre for the national project in 2016, and has since developed weekly coaching groups, outreach work in schools and fun events at the Club
• Many of Norwood Junior Girls are now County players & Junior Member Maddie Smith was recently selected for the England Golf Regional Training Squad
• PGA Professional Richard Strange is the lead County Girls Coach, with Norwood the training base for the County Girls Squad
• The Membership pathway to support the retention of Women & Girls within the Club is also highlightedas a key positive area.
• The ‘Pink Ladies’ weekly Coaching groups and Par 3 Club provide the ideal stepping stone into full Membership
• Over the past 10 years Female membership has increased by 106 %, whilst Girls membership a staggering 550% increase. An overall a 100% increase.

The club has put in place plans to measure the success of each pledge as well as having set timescales linked to each commitment.

Norwood Park Golf has received the backing and full support from England Golf – the governing body for the amateur game in the country.

England Golf will provide assistance via its network of Club Support Officers to enable the club to develop and expand their policy in the months and years to come.

“It has been fantastic to work with Norwood on their Women in Golf Charter. Committing to women and girls’ golf is nothing new for Norwood; they have worked very hard in the past on recruiting and retaining women by throwing themselves into national campaigns as well as creating their own initiatives. Becoming a Charter signatory formalises their commitment for now and in the future and I look forward to following their progress.”

Emily Rowbottom, Club Support Officer, England Golf (Midlands East)

The Club has also appointed a Charter Champion to help co-ordinate the development of the plan. Golf Development Officer Jackie Macey who has a wealth of knowledge within the industry having worked in Golf for over 30 years, and is excited about leading the Women in Golf Charter campaign. She is also a former England Golf Coach Academy Organiser, and a secondary school teacher

The Women in Golf Charter was introduced in 2018 by The R&A with the full backing of England Golf.

In October 2020, the initiative was given further impetus with the launch of the #FOREeveryone campaign.

The campaign begins with the distribution of a toolkit resource, designed to provide guidance on operational and marketing improvement to help attract more women and girls to the sport.

Norwood Park Golf is now ready to contribute actively towards commitments that can change the culture of golf to the benefit of all of those who play and love the sport.

WE ARE WELCOMING BACK GOLFERS FROM NEXT Wednesday 2nd December

Terms and Conditions of Play

Considering the current Covid 19 pandemic, and in line with ‘play safe, stay safe’ guidance, please note the following and make all members of your group aware (this is still subject to governing bodies’ guidance and may change).

The alert level in our area is currently level 3 VERY HIGH

Golfers should try to avoid travelling outside the very-high alert level area you are in or entering a very-high alert level area, other than to travel through the area on a longer journey.

What are the implications at NPGC?

• Norwood & West Wood courses OPEN for 1 – 4 players per tee time – pre-booking only (preferably online)
• Driving range OPEN – individual players, no groups gathering – Rule of 6 applies
• Individual lessons & custom fit sessions permitted
• Pro’s shop OPEN, face masks must be worn
• Clubhouse – CLOSED except for toilet & handwashing facilities, facemasks must be worn
• Do not bring any alcohol onto the premises
• Half-way house OPEN for takeaway hot food & drinks, open daily from 9am – approx. 2pm, (subject to demand) with NEW contactless payment now available in the hut to avoid having to pay for food and drink in the pro’s shop
• Face coverings must also be worn in all public areas of the clubhouse
• A legal obligation for clubs to collect track and trace information via the QR code and tee-time booking system – Thank you for your co-operation
• Please arrive at staggered times, play in your prearranged groups, no groups gathering (Rule of 6 applies)

Before your round

• Please check into the Pro shop before play – the shop has been re-designed to allow for social distancing – observe and obey all signage. Face masks to be worn in the Pro Shop
• Putting Green/ Chipping area available only to golfers just ahead of their tee times max 4 Golfers per Green
• If a group is waiting on the tee, keep a safe distance of at least 2 metres.
• Keep the same safe distance from your playing partner (if from a different household) whilst waiting to start your round.
• Buggies subject to availability, only x 1 per golfer unless from the same household, pre booked in advance, drivers must be over 18 years

During your round

• Always keep two metres apart from your playing partner (if from a different household). This includes when teeing off, walking to the ball, putting out and searching for a lost ball.
• Do not pick up any stray golf balls you may find.
• Do not touch the flagsticks.
• G.U.R on holes 9, 15 & 17th Norwood Course please note that the bare patches at the point where the new turf meets the ‘old’ near the recently renovated bunkers, are classed as GUR until further notice. If one of these bare patches interferes with your stance or swing you may take a free drop: nearest point of complete relief, within one club-length, no nearer the hole.
• Ring the Bells on the Course using anything other than your hand: umbrella, club etc
• Bunkers in play on both courses, with placing 6″ no nearer the hole within the bunker, smooth sand afterwards with your foot or club.
• White lines around the greens – please do not take trolleys or buggies beyond the lines
• Ball washers are out of use
• Avoid slow play without delay, please call players through if you are holding them up
• Preferred lies in operation everywhere on the courses except hazards

After your round

• No presentations or groups gathering permitted – Rule of 6 applies
• The main gate will be closed at approx. 9pm, so all golfers must be off the premises by then

Please can you respect staff, we are trying to ensure these rules are followed so please do not be offended if we remind you if a rule is being broken. Anyone not complying will not be served and may be asked to leave.

If these rules are not followed, NPGC may be fined; clubs and venues are being checked by inspectors.

Remember – these are government rules, not ours!

This is a difficult time for us all and we need your support.

Stay Safe Play Safe

Best wishes
Paul & All

Our Golf courses can re-open from next Wednesday 2nd December, MEMBERS ONLY on the Norwood Course for the first few days

• 9 Holes only on the Norwood Course, starting from the 1st or 10th tee; book online for either tee from Wed 25th Nov at 7.30pm.
• Once you have completed your 9 holes, if you would like to continue (although, due to the expected demand, it is unlikely this will be possible), you must check with pro’s shop after you have finished your 9 Holes
• Each member will only be allowed to book a maximum of 2 tee times within the 3 days.
• Non-members will not be allowed to play without a member on the Norwood course.
• From Saturday 5th December, the Norwood course will revert to 18 holes.
• West Wood Par 3 Course available as usual, bookings only, book online from Wed 25th Nov at 7.30pm.
• Advance booking for members will remain as previous: 10 days for casual golf / weekday competitions tee times, 1 month for weekend competitions.
• Up to 4 players per tee time will be allowed from re-opening.
• Everyone must continue to check-in to the Pro Shop before play, wearing a face covering. Please allow extra time as we envisage the staff in the shop to be very busy.
• The driving range, individual lessons & custom fitting will also be available. We are still awaiting our tier banding from the Government which will affect the clubhouse facilities.

Please book online rather than by phone whenever possible.

Covid Restrictions are still in place throughout

Enjoy your golf… Welcome back…

Best wishes
Paul & All