SHIRLEY Golf Club has claimed a top national award.
The Stratford Road club was crowned Club of the Year at the England Golf Awards, hosted by Mark Chapman.
The club received the award in recognition of its outstanding commitments to inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement.
The Golf for Disabled Children (GFDC) project has provided free coaching to over 100 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children from local schools every week for more than 20 years.
The project has been funded by member donations and the annual GFDC Golf Day, this initiative has helped introduce countless young people to the game in a supportive, welcoming environment.
The club’s sustainability efforts have also been a standout feature of its success.
Following an ecology report, dead trees removed from the course were handcrafted into outdoor seating and donated to a local forestry school, enabling outdoor learning for children.
Aneil Chauhan, general manager from Shirley Golf Club, said: “This is great recognition for the work they’ve done for many years. We have a fantastic team, with some amazing volunteers, so this is amazing.
“We continue to run the Golf for Disabled Children weekly and we have over 100 children taking part. It’s amazing to see them turn up, full of energy, really happy and if we can continue you that in the future, it will be fantastic.
“We’ve also got a sustainability committee, who are looking to become net zero by 2030, so there’s a lot do, but it’s an exciting time. It’s our 70th year so we’ll certainly have a party for the membership to celebrate this win.”
