It's all change in the East of Scotland this month as Laura Rushby, ClubGolf's popular East Regional Manager moves south to apply her proven skills in a London golf club.
Applications now open for new candidate
Laura has been with RBS-supported ClubGolf for four and a half
years, and under her leadership the region's junior golf has
flourished.
Over 50 clubs in the Lothians and Scottish Borders are offering
structured coaching and working with ClubGolf. This year more than
80 percent of the region's Primary 5 population, some 6000
children, will receive ClubGolf coaching.
The cultural shift towards juniors in East clubs has been huge in
the last four years. It's not in Laura's character to take personal
credit, although all involved in the programme locally would
doubtless say otherwise.
It was a highly fitting tribute that last month a club and a
volunteer from Laura's region scooped both the RBS Junior Club and
Volunteer Awards; Iain Holt, stalwart volunteer coach at Turnhouse
Golf Club, and nearby Dundas Parks Golf Club.
"We've got some fantastic people in place, who are not only
driving things forward in their own clubs but are working with
schools and people in other clubs, supporting each other and
working together," says Laura.
"It's been a gradual process, a case of constantly chipping away,
and once you have got into the club and got the programme started,
you see people realising that the ClubGolf programme really does
works.
"From that point you see other people at the club getting involved
and it keeps growing from there. It takes time but it's encouraging
when you see golf clubs realising ClubGolf is a great thing and
they in turn begin offering things like discounted family
membership or a tiered junior membership.
"And it has all started with ClubGolf coaching."
It might seem daunting for anyone considering taking on ClubGolf's
East region, or for others who consider the job in the East is
already done, but Laura reassures that this is not the case and
with the 2014 Ryder Cup in the not far distant future, the next two
years will be a great time to be involved.
"ClubGolf's many new innovations and projects in the East, such as
coach development, indoor winter ClubGolf programmes and new
resources for schools make this is a very exciting time," she
said.
"In the East there are a lot of great people involved, key
partners like Active Schools, sports development, Edinburgh Leisure
and of course all the volunteers, Pro's and golf clubs.
"Many of the volunteers I work with have become good friends. They
are great people and it's hugely inspiring when you see how much
time and hard work they put in.
"I've been really touched by the number of messages of thanks and
support from people across the region, it feels like I'm leaving my
second family!
"But I know the region now has strong foundations and I'm sure the
next regional manager will enjoy the challenge and take things to
the next level.
"I'd like to say a massive thank you to everybody that has
supported me and ClubGolf over the last four years, particularly my
fellow ClubGolf regional managers and colleagues; we are a great
team and I am really going to miss everyone."
Her new project will be as Competitions, Events and Marketing
Manager at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club in Richmond. It's just the
type of multi-tasking, roll up your sleeves and hands-on approach
that she will thrive in…and with ClubGolf in the blood she already
has plans to develop the club's junior section.
Laura, we wish you well and know you will make a great
success.
If you need some inspiration, ideas and approaches to keep your ClubGolf programme on the right track, we have built up a wealth of information and inspiring stories for you to tap into and perhaps even replicate at your club.
View all the images from our recent events and coaching sessions