June Poffley is Club Volunteer of the Year

JUNE POFFLEY, North Wilts’ Junior Organiser, has received a national award in England Golf’s inaugural Volunteer of the Year awards.

One of only five recipients, June received her award for club development from Bill Bryce, chairman of the England Golf Partnership.

June is dedicated to encouraging youngsters, especially girls, to take up golf and undoubtedly sets the standard for a club junior organiser.

Her initiatives include visiting local schools to introduce pupils to the game through Tri-Golf and to train school staff. A Tri-Golf course is being built on the club’s practice ground and will host school festivals.

June is the driving force behind the club’s Junior Weeks when local youngsters are offered free coaching and playing opportunities. At the end of the week the family of each youngster will also be invited to come to the club to try golf. Any girls attending will be given a voucher for four coaching sessions as part of a drive to encourage more to take up the sport.

June was instrumental in North Wilts becoming the first club in the county to achieve the Junior GolfMark and in upgrading this to GolfMark, the national award for junior and beginner-friendly clubs.

Now, she’s turning her attention to attracting more women into golf.

She remarked: “This is a lovely award but the success of the junior section is down to lots of people doing their bit. It’s made me think about all the volunteers in the golf club and how we value them and how we thank them.”

June was among five winners at the Volunteer of the Year awards. Full details: www.golfvolunteers.org.