Devon’s Stover Golf Club has been crowned Tournament Venue of the Year at this year’s England Golf Awards, hosted by Mark Chapman at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
The club has been recognised following its outstanding hosting of the English Women’s County Finals last September.
The club went above and beyond to create an exceptional tournament experience, ensuring both players and spectators enjoyed a seamless and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.
From the moment the six county finalists arrived, Stover provided first-class hospitality, adapting its facilities to accommodate the needs of players, teams, and visitors. A dedicated marquee was set up to cater specifically for spectators, while the main lounge became a base for the competing teams, offering tailored catering and refreshments to support them through intense back-to-back matches.
Stover’s enthusiastic team of volunteers played a pivotal role in the tournament’s success. The club produced its own spectator guide, ensuring visitors had access to key event information, and maintained an efficient and well-organised set-up that contributed to a fantastic atmosphere.
When unexpected weather delays disrupted play on the final day, Stover’s catering team swiftly adjusted plans, serving lunch for 70 people at short notice - a testament to their adaptability and commitment to delivering a world-class event.
Accepting the award, Sarah Arnold, Lead Tournament Organiser from Stover Golf Club, said: "We're astonishingly proud as Stover is a small golf club and hadn't hosted anything of this scale before, especially when comparing to other Devon clubs, such as Saunton, who have hosted the Brabazon Trophy for example, so we're delighted to be in the same bracket.
"I have played women's county golf in the past, so I understood the format and the tournament, and what it takes to make the players feel comfortable and to be able to play at their best. We tried to take away all their concerns and have someone always there to answer questions they have, so to be able to gather such a helpful group of volunteers, who we could embed that ethos into, helped us pull off an event where everyone felt comfortable.
"This will definitely be something that we'll celebrate back at the club with the staff and volunteers - as we had over 60 volunteers helping during the the tournament. The catering staff and a greenkeeping team had some of the biggest challenges - we actually had six new holes built on the golf course due to a road widening project in the 12 months prior to the event, so to have got the course into such fabulous condition was amazing."
The club went above and beyond to create an exceptional tournament experience, ensuring both players and spectators enjoyed a seamless and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.
From the moment the six county finalists arrived, Stover provided first-class hospitality, adapting its facilities to accommodate the needs of players, teams, and visitors. A dedicated marquee was set up to cater specifically for spectators, while the main lounge became a base for the competing teams, offering tailored catering and refreshments to support them through intense back-to-back matches.
Stover’s enthusiastic team of volunteers played a pivotal role in the tournament’s success. The club produced its own spectator guide, ensuring visitors had access to key event information, and maintained an efficient and well-organised set-up that contributed to a fantastic atmosphere.
When unexpected weather delays disrupted play on the final day, Stover’s catering team swiftly adjusted plans, serving lunch for 70 people at short notice - a testament to their adaptability and commitment to delivering a world-class event.
Accepting the award, Sarah Arnold, Lead Tournament Organiser from Stover Golf Club, said: "We're astonishingly proud as Stover is a small golf club and hadn't hosted anything of this scale before, especially when comparing to other Devon clubs, such as Saunton, who have hosted the Brabazon Trophy for example, so we're delighted to be in the same bracket.
"I have played women's county golf in the past, so I understood the format and the tournament, and what it takes to make the players feel comfortable and to be able to play at their best. We tried to take away all their concerns and have someone always there to answer questions they have, so to be able to gather such a helpful group of volunteers, who we could embed that ethos into, helped us pull off an event where everyone felt comfortable.
"This will definitely be something that we'll celebrate back at the club with the staff and volunteers - as we had over 60 volunteers helping during the the tournament. The catering staff and a greenkeeping team had some of the biggest challenges - we actually had six new holes built on the golf course due to a road widening project in the 12 months prior to the event, so to have got the course into such fabulous condition was amazing."
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org