Windlesham invests in the future
Published:
While most golf clubs in the area are trimming down their budgets and cutting back, Windlesham is doing the reverse; investing close to two million pounds over the past twelve months.
The junior section of the Club has been one of the key beneficiaries of this. Windlesham has always enjoyed a well-balanced blend of genders and age groups at the Club and enjoys a growing family membership category, but like almost all venues it is keen to see more young girls take up the game – and stay with it.
It has recently launched a Club-funded scholarship programme which offer two year’s free membership and tuition for girls. There are currently three girls with scholarship status, with the aim to taking that number up to eight this year, all funded by the Club and it’s members. The Club is also taking its team of PGA-trained coaching staff into local schools to persuade more girls and boys to take up the game, ensuring that Windlesham plays its part in keeping golf on the sporting radar for youngsters.
The owners and management’s commitment to continued investment in the Club has also seen the opening of a major redevelopment of the already spacious clubhouse. The huge project, which was completed at the start of last summer, saw the whole building extended some 20 feet outwards in the direction of the golf course, providing for a sizeable increase in the internal space. This has allowed the popular restaurant to increase its capacity up to 120 diners, while the main bar and lounge area has been transformed into a light and airy space.
Lee Mucklow, Head PGA Professional at Windlesham, said: “Since taking over the running of Windlesham Golf Club it was clear that the new management (Peter Lumley and Tony Trueman) were extremely interested in evolving junior golf at the Club and from there broadening out to bring golf to children in the local community. From that day 5 years ago with their continued verbal and financial support we have been able to develop the Junior Academy to a point where we now have links with 5 local schools, run a successful under 10’s introduction to golf programme, and a Scholarship programme that rewards skill, application and respect for others through the OOM Academy Cup events. The Junior Academy at Windlesham is now considered to have one of the best junior programmes within the Surrey County Union.”
