DROITWICH Golf Club member Laura Yapp has taken on a key role to support Worcestershire clubs grow the game.
She is a new England Golf Club support officer and will be helping clubs to strengthen their business and to attract more players and members.
Laura said: “I’m really excited about this opportunity to work with clubs in Worcestershire, listening to and understanding their business needs.
“Using that knowledge I can support them to provide the experience their customers want.”
Laura joined England Golf with several years’ experience of working in sports related and general business roles.
After completing her degree in Sports Development in 2008, she has worked for national sports governing bodies, a county sports partnership and, most recently, she spent two years as a project manager at a manufacturing company.
Through her previous roles in sport, Laura managed several sports projects and programmes focused on participation, school sport, coaching and volunteering.
While working at the county sports partnership she was the lead contact for England Golf and worked with them to develop golf in the county.
Laura has played golf for many years and plays for the county women’s team.
She is enthusiastic about encouraging people of all ages to play golf.
Gavin Anderson, England Golf’s senior regional manager, said: “I am sure Laura will be a tremendous asset to the county and they will support the clubs to increase participation and club membership.”
England Golf’s new strategy for 2017-21, Growing the game of golf in England, focuses on the customer and the importance of providing them with the golfing experience they want, whether that’s competitive play, social opportunities or short format golf which fits into busy lifestyles.
It also has the over-arching aim of encouraging more women and girls into golf.
Currently, only 15 per cent of club members are women but research shows that 640,000 women and girls are interested in taking up the sport.
Among the initiatives Laura will be promoting is the Get into Golf campaign, which offers great value coaching opportunities to new and improving players, and Golf Express, which promotes shorter format golf.
