European award for Kent's Open Legacy project

European award for Kent's Open Legacy project

The Kent Open Legacy project, which helped introduce thousands of people to golf, has won the inaugural Golf Development Award from the PGAs of Europe.

The award is designed to recognise a project which has excelled in developing the game and was presented at a glittering dinner in the Algarve at the end of the PGAs of Europe’s annual week of highlights.

The presentation was watched by a gathering of players, delegates and industry representatives from 31 countries and across four continents.

The Open Legacy was devised to leave a lasting legacy for the people of Kent from golf’s Open Championship, when the global sporting event was played at Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, in July 2011.

It proved to be hugely successful and resulted in:
• 25 Young Golf Ambassadors, aged 16-23, who were recruited, trained and deployed at The Open, Golf Live! and local initiatives
• 845 volunteer hours provided by the Young Golf Ambassadors and members of Kent Golf Partnership
• 3104 people involved in golf legacy activities across Kent, with further taster sessions planned for 2012
• 10 national and local organisations, as well as local clubs, coaches and media, working in partnership
• 50 Kent PGA professionals recruited and used in golf legacy activities

The Open Legacy project team combined all strands of sports development. The Kent Golf Partnership – which aims to grow the game of golf in the county – worked with the PGA, the R&A, Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics, EGU/EWGA, Golf Foundation, England Golf, G&A Links and Visit Kent as well as with local clubs and coaches, voluntary organisations, and local media/marketing organisations.

Andy Willems, the EGU/EWGA Regional Development Officer for the South East, commented: “It is amazing for the project to be recognised with a European Award. This is a great testament to all those involved and a big thank you must go to the R&A and PGA for their support.

“We are very proud to be the inaugural winners and, on behalf of all the coaches, young ambassadors, volunteers and clubs we thank the PGAs of Europe for this honour. We hope the work carried out will inspire more people to start, play and join golf in Kent.”

The PGAs of Europe’s annual week of highlights at Vilamoura included the 22nd Annual Congress and the International Team Championship (ITC) supported by Glenmuir, Associaçäo Turismo do Algarve, Ryder Cup European Development Trust and Rolex.

Other awards presented were:
John Jacobs Coach of the Year: Michael Bannon, coach to Rory McIlroy.

Christer Lindberg Bowl: George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour.

Five-Star Professional: Mikael Sorling, managing director, the PGA of Sweden

Lifetime Achievement Award: Severiano Ballesteros. (Posthumously to his brother Vicente)

Recognition Award: Dennis Shaw, (Media) for 20 years of promoting and publicising PGA activities.


Caption details
Award winners: Ian Randell (left), chief executive PGAs of Europe, and Frank Kirsten (right), Director PGAs of Europe, present the PGAs of Europe Golf Development Award to (from second left) Andy Willems, EGU/EWGA Regional Development Officer, Sheena Pitchford of Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics, and Jim Pocknell, chairman of the Kent Golf Partnership.