Melissa wins nomination for national honour

Melissa Clapham  is relative newcomer to golf having started some seven years ago at Lymm Golf Club with her husband Nigel.

After moving to live in Romiley in 2021 she joined the golf club.

After taking on the role of England Golf Charter Champion for the club Melissa was delighted to see her hard work in the role pay off as she has been nominated for the England Golf Volunteer of the Year award with two other ladies, one of which is another Cheshire lady – Abby Frodsham (Wallasey GC).

The awards evening is on February 13 at the England Golf Centenary Dinner at The Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Melissa outlined her time in golf: “After many years of trying to get me to join him on the golf course at Lymm to play nine holes with Nigel, who had bought me a set of clubs as a surprise for my birthday with the set of clubs he had bought me as a surprise for my birthday

“Walking off the course after nine holes Nigel asked if I wanted a drink before leaving. “Unfortunately I slipped on a gravel path tripping over a raised manhole and slithered along the gravel ripping skin off my knees arms and elbows. 

“When I eventually came to a halt, the clubs which were on a hired trolley also stopped and shot out of the bag hitting me on the head!

“I refused the drink went home and put the clubs away for a year!

“We then moved to Romiley GC and the lady Vice Captain Anne Harrison remembered me from a mixed open the year before, and introduced me to some of the ladies.

“When she became Lady Captain, she asked if I would join the ladies committee and after a few weeks the committee asked if I would also take on the role of England Golf Charter Champion for the club as well as help to recruit more ladies.

“In April and August 2022 we held two taster days and a total of 64 ladies attended.

“Of those 30 ladies completed a five week group coaching sessions with professional Graham Drabble and 17 became full members. 

“To help me I asked England Golf if we could get some lady volunteers onto the Activators Course and I recruited four lady members to help as volunteers including Anne Harrison.

“For the ladies who work we go out in groups in the evening usually Mondays and Wednesdays, plus we hold practice sessions on Sunday afternoons and if the weather is bad we book the golf studio.

“All 17 ladies achieved handicaps and most are now entering competitions and away friendly matches.

“With Anne I set up a monthly meeting for all new to golf ladies and each month we meet and invite a guest speaker to come along and talk about golf etiquette, rules, handicaps etc.

“We also discuss club activities, socials and competitions the ladies can enter.

“In 2023 we held another taster day in April and 37 ladies registered on the day it rained heavily but still 32 attended. 

“Of those 30 joined a series of group lessons with Graham and 20 who come to weekly sessions and we go out on the course in groups with the volunteers, weather permitting, or hold putting and chipping competitions on the practice area 

“Seven ladies have joined as full members for 2024 and have handicaps and all the volunteers have attended the England Golf Activators Course.

“We recently held an Activators course at RGC for six people who have volunteered to help me build up the junior section and three are new lady members who joined our August 2022 taster day!

“We held our first meeting a few weeks ago and we are holding a Taster Day in 2024 for new-to-golf juniors. Plus we are inviting the regular juniors and their parents to join us earlier in the day to hear about all the new things happening in 2024 for the junior section.

“Finally I was nominated by Ben Johnson from England Golf for the National award and for the club I hold the title of ‘England Golf Get into Golf Charter Champion’.”

(Picture & Copy Geoff Garnett)

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