This funding from the Taskers Trophy is crucial for maintaining a high level of training for girls within the county. Without it, Nottinghamshire would struggle to provide adequate training, as it currently allows any girl to attend coaching sessions, whether they are beginners or advanced players.

Importance of Regular Meetings

Regular meetings are essential as they help the girls feel more confident within their clubs, reduce their anxiety about entering open competitions, and enable them to progress at a faster rate. Most clubs only have one or two girls within their membership, so having regular sessions where they can meet other girls and build friendships is vital for keeping girls within the game.

Junior Coaching Program

The funding allows NCLGA to provide junior coaching for all junior girls within Nottinghamshire. The girls meet once a month at Oakmere Park Golf Club and are coached using the driving range bays, including some Top Tracer bays that give them more accurate statistics. Where possible, on-course coaching is also provided for a more realistic game situation, as well as short game and putting experience. This funding supports girls starting the game without handicaps as well as those who are more experienced. This approach helps Nottinghamshire consistently field effective teams to compete across the country. Many girls now attend regional and England training at England Golf, which they can only access through the county coaching program. By not narrowing the offering to those with handicaps, NCLGA provides as many girls as possible with opportunities to progress.

Aims for 2025

The aims for 2025 are:

• To maintain or increase the number of players within the county training sessions. Two players will leave at the end of 2024 as they turn 18, but the goal is to take on new players and maintain numbers around 35. The squad is quite young, and building their confidence and ability is a prime target.
• To encourage new players to obtain handicaps. Many new non-handicap players were gained during 2024, and the focus now is to build their confidence and help them achieve their first handicap.
• For players to improve their handicap during the year, with the aim for most players to lower their handicap by 2 during the year.
• For players to feel confident to take part in team events.

These criteria should be achievable by the end of the season in November 2025. While training sessions continue 11 months of the year, most aims are expected to be met before the usual end of the playing season.

Additional Funding and Development Objectives

Other funding comes from the England Golf Development Pathway, aimed at under-14 players. The additional funds from the Taskers Trophy would supplement this and support the continuation of provision for ages 14-18 and the scratch team. The county development objectives supported by this funding are:

• To provide coaching to all girls who wish to attend.
• To produce teams that can compete at a high level against other counties.
• To raise the number of girls achieving handicaps.
• For girls to experience short and long game coaching.
• To have the opportunity to play in competitive team situations.

Success and Future Goals

Previous years’ funding has allowed NCLGA to build the number of new players in their squads. Last year, they provided on-course coaching for the summer season, requiring an extra coach and attracting new players. This foundation needs to be built upon.

Nottinghamshire became the English Women’s County Champions in 2024, with the squad including three junior girls and two who had just passed junior age. This success demonstrates that the system works, providing strong junior girls and a basis for them to achieve greater things. One girl who recently left the juniors now plays for the England Ladies team, another is in the English Girls Squad, and another is in the regional coaching squads. Others are expected to apply for regional training as their handicaps reduce. Without funding, this depth of support would not be possible.

The NCLGA is committed to providing comprehensive training and development opportunities for young female golfers. The support from the Taskers Trophy Inter-Club funding is essential to continue fostering the next generation of talented golfers.

Suzi Anderson - Junior Organiser - Nottinghamshire County Ladies Golf Association