A BASINGSTOKE golf club has been nominated to the final of the England Golf 2022 awards.
Weybrook Park Golf Club in Rooksdown Lane is one of the four clubs nominated to the ‘Club of the Year’ category.
The Basingstoke club’s course architect and captain Sandy Burrell has also been nominated to the final of the awards in the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ category.
Sandy was the catalyst of the development of the new 18-hole golf course, the primary architect and construction director.
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He promoted the initial idea, prepared planning applications, led the construction agreement with an earthworks contractor and persuaded 500 members to build an initial 9 holes and then reconstruct the existing front 9 holes.
Over a 17-year period Sandy supervised the works on site amending and tweaking the design work alongside the in-house green keeping team and several golf course construction specialists.
A spokesperson for Weybrook Park Golf Club said: “We are extremely proud to announce that Weybrook Park Golf Club is a finalist in the England Golf 2022 awards in not just one category but two.
“Firstly, we submitted our nomination for ‘'Club of the Year” category and received confirmation that we are one of four golf clubs shortlisted for this prestigious award, out of a possible 2,270 golf courses in England.
“We are delighted to have received such recognition from the 46 people that made up the judging panel, and from among so many other golf club submissions. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work, from a lot of different people, over the last few years. We’d like to take the opportunity to thank our employees and our members for their support, their various contributions, and their sheer passion in making this club what it is today.
“Secondly, we submitted Sandy Burrell as ‘Volunteer of the Year’ and has also made it to the final four in this category. With so much hard work and time that Sandy has dedicated and put into to Weybrook Park it is most definitely deserved and have fingers crossed for Sandy also. Whatever the outcome both Weybrook Park and Sandy Burrell is an amazingly achievement to get to get to the final.”
The other finalists for the Club of the Year award are Bowood Park GC (Cornwall), Clitheroe GC (Lancashire) and Hazel Grove GC (Cheshire).
David Smith, club chairman and volunteer green keeper, said: I’m delighted that England Golf has recognised the massive steps forward which Weybrook Park has taken. From the outset of the club in the early 1990s, so many people have contributed so much to create a thriving 27-hole golf complex with a stunning new West course, designed by our very own Sandy Burrell.
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Sandy Burrell said: The construction of the west course has taken many years and been supported by the membership. It is great that England Golf recognise the voluntary efforts which have gone into the planning, design and delivery of this very ambitious project.
The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 20 at 18.30. The event will be broadcast live on England Golf’s YouTube channel and will be hosted by broadcaster, journalist and avid golfer Naga Munchetty.
For more information on all the award categories, click here.
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