| LLANDRINDOD WELLS got next year's centenary celebrations off to an early
start by winning the main award at the Welsh Golf Club of the Year awards in Cardiff
yesterday. Llandrindod Wells progressed from winning the junior golf category
in 2003 to picking up the senior prize and a cheque for £6,000 this year,
as well as a further £1,000 for topping the business and communication section
in the awards presented by the Welsh Golfing Union and sponsors Towergate Leisure
Underwriting. The prize money comes as rich reward for nearly £500,000
of investment into a true community facility. A £330,000 clubhouse redevelopment
to provide new changing rooms and a conference room at the Mid Wales club is currently
under construction and follows hard on the heels of this summer's opening of a
£100,000 floodlit driving range. "Attending last year's inaugural
awards was inspirational for us and what we've tried to do this year," said delighted
club chairman Mal Thomas. "It pushed us over the edge to take a chance as
a rural golf club and undertake a major clubhouse redevelopment. "This type
of function brings you together with other golf clubs to share ideas and learn
from each other. Golf in Wales is so exciting to be involved with and this sort
of event helps push you forward." Not that Llandrindod needed much encouragement
as it aimed to improve facilities for the benefit of the whole area. "We're
essentially a community club," said secretary Robert Southcott. "The new driving
range, for example, is open to everyone and non-members pay the same price for
a bucket of balls as members. "We've also got initiatives to help people
become members like a £60 beginners' package which includes two lessons
and two months use of the golf course. "Junior membership starts from £20
and we've also introduced a colts' membership so that juniors won't be expected
to pay the full adult subscription until they reach the age of 26." Interest
in the driving range has exceeded expectation and it also provides the perfect
base for the club's new junior golf academy. Welsh Golfing Union president
Keith Price said, "The WGU believe this competition not only offers a financial
incentive but, also by the questions posed in the entry forms, acts as a best-practice
guide. "It is designed to show the involvement of our many clubs in their
approach and attitudes to the many facets that go to produce a successful golf
club in the 21st Century." Towergate's £15,000 sponsorship is matched
by the Sportsmatch Cymru scheme implemented by the Sports Council for Wales. Winners Welsh
golf club of the year: Llandrindod Wells Junior golf: Aberystwyth Environment:
Creigiau Clubhouse/course presentation: Garnant Park Business
and communication: Llandrindod Wells
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