For immediate release: 01/10/24

England Golf shortlisted for three categories at 2024 Sports Business Awards

30 September 2024

England Golf is delighted to reveal that it has been shortlisted for three prestigious prizes at the 2024 Sports Business Awards.

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Having been runner-up for the Sports Organisation of the Year at the 2024 FEVO Sports Industry Awards in April, the national governing body for golf in England is now up for three more gongs at the annual Sports Business Awards, which take place at Old Billingsgate on Friday 29 November.

England Golf has been shortlisted as a finalist for three categories; Best Sports Governing Body of the Year, Sports Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award, and the Sports Innovation Award.

With over 1750 affiliated golf clubs and 722,000 members, England Golf’s strategic Course Planner sees the organisation committing to its four key pillars; to lead through strong governance and integrity, to energise and support the golf community, to deliver a more inclusive and accessible sport, and to inspire current and future generations.

One of its key initiatives over the past 12 months has been the Respect in Golf movement, which is aimed at making the game more accessible and inclusive to all, ensuring that people from all walks of life feel welcomed to take up the game and to participate at whatever social and/or competitive level they enjoy most.

The last year has seen some crucial work with a facility scheme encouraging over 70 facilities to affiliate and partner with England Golf, including driving ranges, golf simulator venues, adventure golf, and par-3/short courses. Alongside this, the introduction of the free iPlay functionality on England Golf’s MyEG app, which provides a platform to get people into the game, is further showcasing the governing body’s commitment in encouraging more people to take up the game, with over 5500 sign-ups to date.

Meanwhile, the introduction of iGolf to cater for independent golfers to obtain an official Handicap Index®, has seen over 80,000 people sign up. From those 80,000, 13,000 have now converted into golf club membership, demonstrating the positive effect of having a pathway for golfers to get into the game at various levels.

England Golf has also introduced a Community Golf Instructor programme, to create a dedicated new workforce to help grow the game in getting golf into schools, communities and more beginner activity into golf clubs. Once trained, instructors are able to lead beginner and introductory activity independently, working in a paid or voluntary capacity.

Furthermore, the governing body inspires positive change across its 1750-plus golf clubs, by engaging with stakeholders and educating them about the opportunities and challenges which golf has regarding sustainability, encouraging clubs and facilities to future proof themselves.

England Golf Chief Executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “For England Golf to be shortlisted for three more prestigious awards is testament to everyone working at the organisation and incredible volunteers who support good for golf initiatives.

“With over 7 million people playing golf in many formats in this country, we want everyone to feel welcome, at whatever level or environment they wish to play. We believe that there is a seamless pathway for people to not just get into golf, but to progress socially and competitively as far as they want in the sport.

“We continue to make significant steps towards changing long-held perceptions of golf, by providing support to clubs, counties and facilities to adopt robust equality, diversity and inclusion policies, to welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, reaching out to more people than ever before.

“We truly believe that the sport is for all, and nobody should feel like they can’t pick up a club and enjoy golf. Whether you just want to play mini golf, hit a few balls at the range, or play 18 holes on a course, you are a golfer, and we encourage anyone and everyone to have fun playing golf in whatever capacity.”

A 2024 England Golf survey revealed how 86 per cent of people play golf for social purposes, while 83 per cent play for individual reasons such as physical and mental health.

For more information about the 2024 Sports Business Awards, click here.