Hawarden Delight at Wales Golf Club of The Year
HAWARDEN Golf Club has gone from facing disaster to being named the Wales Golf Club of the Year, thanks to an impressive turnaround and commitment to sustainability over the last five years.
Chairman Andrew Errington, chair of handicaps Ken Jones and head greenkeeper Tom Ison joined club manager and PGA professional Alex Rowland to receive their award at the Wales Golf Awards ceremony at Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor, at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse.
Alex had received a call from Wales Golf three weeks before the event to say that Hawarden Golf Club had won. “I only told Andrew and we kept it hush hush from everyone else as Wales Golf had asked us to keep it under wraps,” explained Alex.
“It was a massive secret to keep, and I was dying to tell people. Andrew drove the four of us all down and back in one day.”
Sustainability and Growth at the Core of the Win
The award was linked in to all the work the Flintshire-based club has done with sustainability, wildlife, course management, how the club is governed, how you get on with the New 2 Golf scheme, ladies’ memberships and junior memberships.
“Wales Golf have a strict points system and you have to meet different criteria. Across the board we were the most consistent, which is the reason for the award,” added Evertonian Alex.
“The governance of the golf club has changed dramatically, which was a big tick. We went from being a normal golf club to Hawarden Golf Limited, which is made up of a board of six directors, a management committee and sub-committees.
“We did well on lady memberships the previous year and took on board some advice from Wales Golf that increased the number of ladies by another 25% this time around. That played a big part in us picking up the award too and got us over the line because everything else was pretty much already in place.
“We scored well in the environment section. Bob Capper has done an amazing job creating dead hedges around the second, ninth and 18th tees. They are basically bug hotels. It’s a great eco-system but they look great too.
“Tom has also done a great job with the native grass, and we also planted 370 new trees in the last two-three years.
“We scored points for course improvements. We ploughed money into improving the drainage and have an on-going bunker project, which we are a third of a way through. The six that have been done are of a fabulous standard.”
“Tom, was even nominated for greenkeeper of the year, but he just missed out on that one.”
Reflecting on the Journey from Near Closure
“To win the award is off the scale. When I arrived here 28 years ago, I would never have imagined we would win any award, never mind Golf Club of the Year.
“It is incredible when you think back to 2013 when we were in Hawarden High School begging for money from the members to keep us afloat. The turnout was 297 out of 320 members to that EGM and they agreed to pay another £130 each to keep us going.
“We were very close to going under. It was a pivotal moment in the club’s history and we’ve really started to be run like a proper business ever since then.
“Any club can say how friendly they are but we genuinely pride ourselves on the welcome we provide here and make sure everyone feels at home.
“We won’t rest on our laurels and hope that this award will bring a few more members and visitors.
“We had 320 members in 2021 and now we have just over 500, including 28 in the last couple of months.
“I really am confident that this is just the start. We’re not ones to sit still and actually we want to build on this award. We want the course and the club is left in good hands for the next 50 to 100 years. I’d hope when I leave it’s in a better position than when I arrived.
This is an award for, not just people here now, but people in the past who have given up so much of their valuable time for the club.
North Wales Clubs Shine at the Awards
North Wales Golf Club won the award in 2019 and of the 16 winners, there have only been five from the North.
Other award winners this time around from North Wales included Llandudno/Maesdu Golf Club, who added another award to their collection with the Sustainability Project of the Year supported by Citation.
Delamere Forest’s James Ashfield claimed the men’s PING Golfer of the Year award, with Royal St David’s Ann Lewis getting the PING Women’s Senior Player of the Year award for the second year running.
A Landmark Year for Golf in Wales
Wales Golf chief executive Hannah McAllister said: “Congratulations to all the winners, once again it took a very high standard to receive one of these awards with plenty of very tight competition.
“I would also like to thank our sponsors for supporting golf in Wales and these awards in particular.
“From dedicated volunteers and rising stars to remarkable clubs, counties, and those with a lifetime of service, these awards showcase what makes our sport so special.
“This event is a chance to recognise those who have gone above and beyond, whether through their extraordinary achievements or their unwavering dedication to growing and inspiring the Welsh golfing community.
“This is a very exciting year for golf in Wales as we prepare to host the AIG Women’s Open for the first time. All the world’s top players will be here in the summer and we hope to use that to give women and girls golf a massive boost.
“We have a £1 million legacy fund from Welsh Government to boost facilities and programmes around Wales, which will make a long-term impact – just as happened after Wales hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.”
