Suzy Smith wins Top
volunteer award
England Golf
honour for
Henley golfer
who just loves
volunteering
Oxfordshire’s Suzy Smith, who has made a
huge contribution to junior golf, has been
recognised as one of England Golf’s top
volunteers.
with the county juniors. She also helped to
set up the BB&O Partnership’s Academy
and, as a level one coach, works both within
her club and the Partnership programmes.
Suzy, from Henley Golf Club, was presented
with the 2014 England Golf Women’s
Lifetime Achievement Award for services to
golf at an annual gala dinner.
“I love volunteering,” she said. “I think if you
have been involved in a sport you love you
want to give something back and the thing
I’m most proud of is getting more girls
playing golf.”
“It’s a huge honour to win this award and I
feel very humbled,” said Suzy. “There are so
many people who do so much more than
me and are so hardworking and dedicated.
To be representing them is a huge honour.”
Suzy has made a huge contribution to
junior golf within her club, within
Oxfordshire and within the BB&O (Berks,
Bucks & Oxon) County Golf Partnership.
She has been on the club’s junior committee
for 11 years, taking a very active role to
encourage children to play golf, and
supporting the club professional in his work
with juniors. In the last two years alone
she’s organised free sessions to give 1,200
local school children a taste of golf.
Photo courtesy Leaderboard
Photography.
Suzy has also been the Oxfordshire Ladies’
county junior organiser and is still involved
Henley Golf Club’s PGA professional Mark
Howell said: “Henley Golf Club would not be
the same if it wasn't for Suzy’s enthusiasm
and all the time she gives up to organise
golf in the area.”
Suzy has been a member at Henley since
childhood and was ladies’ captain in 2003,
following in the footsteps of her mother,
who held the office in 1988. They are
Henley’s only ‘mother and daughter’
captains.
Suzy was one of seven award winners
who were recognised at the gala dinner at
the County Golf Development Conference
at Staverton Park, Northamptonshire.
They were all applauded by those leading
the vision to ‘grow the game’ at grassroots
level through the national network of
County Golf Partnerships.
David Joy, the
England Golf Chief
Executive, said:
“Volunteers play a
vital role in the
development of golf at
every level and we are
fortunate to have so
many dedicated and
talented people who
readily volunteer at
club, county, regional
and national levels.
“We are delighted to
be recognising the
great work of seven
inspirational people
this year who have
done so much to
encourage others to
take up the game, to
play more often and to
improve.”
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