JERSEY Ladies Golf celebrated England Golf’s centenary year by picking up the 2023 Women and Girls’ Trailblazer Award, at the very place where England Golf was born, The Midland Manchester Hotel.
In a sport thriving on the Island among men, with some stunning courses and facilities, it was the forward thinking and unwavering hard work of three of the smaller golf clubs – Les Mielles, Les Ormes and St Clements – who created the Jersey Women in Golf Working Group.
The aim was to devise an initiative to re-energise a sport among women whose participation and membership numbers had been struggling to date.
Club captains Tracy Bougourd (Les Mielles), Melina Syred (Les Ormes) and Louise Kirton-Read (St Clement) came together with their hard-working committees, along with Jersey Golf co-president Juanita Adlington, to approach Jersey Sport’s Libby Bennett and England Golf’s Kate Dymott for advice on how to get more women in Jersey playing golf.
The group began taster sessions for all ages and abilities to come and try golf in early 2023 and the results have been excellent, even in such a short timeframe.
To date, they have had 68 women attend their taster sessions – including 23 new membership signings – a 9% increase already.
Adlington said: “Winning this award is such a special moment not only for me but for everybody involved in women’s golf and women’s sport in Jersey.
“I didn’t allow myself to think we were going to win, so when we did I was over the moon.
“To celebrate our achievement at such a wonderful event, in the centenary year of England Golf at the place where it all started, it was extremely special to be a part of.
“This award is fully down to the incredible hard work of the volunteers from all three clubs, their committees, Libby [Barnett] at Jersey Sport and Kate [Dymott] for her guidance too.
“It’s been an awful lot of work and so many people have sacrificed so much to get to this stage so this award goes to those incredible ladies.”
With the award coming right at the start of a new year, Adlington is keen to use it to their advantage and continue the momentum gained.
“We are hoping people will see this achievement and think wow, that’s incredible, I want to be a part of that,” she added.
“We have plans with Jersey Sport to get into schools soon and spread the word to as many young girls as possible that they can be a part of golf and our journey.
“We were also able to use the awards night to develop new relationships from other members of England Golf and forge new friendships and connections that we can use to further advance our cause.
“We are actively seeking sponsorship as well. Any financial investment will be a massive boost for us to continue to develop our plans moving forwards.
“It’s a great time for women’s sport in general and it’s a great time for people to want to be involved with women’s sport.
“It’s clearly on the rise and we want to get the word out there that women can play and enjoy golf and we’re here for them.”
For more information on how to get involved in golf in Jersey, Adlington can be reached at jerseygolfpresident@gmail.com.
