THORNBURY Golf Club team Cherie Franklyn-Gardner, John Warren, Sam Ballard and Howard Marshall won the coveted GolfMark trophy recently at Ross-on-Wye Golf Club.

Golf Mark is a national accreditation that has been designed to support all golf clubs, however big or small to achieve distinct operating standards in four areas of a club’s business activity; recruitment & retention– supporting your club to attract new members and increase the participation of existing members

Management & sustainability– helping to develop your club through practical business planning.

Coaching & competitions– enhancing coaching and playing opportunities at your club for all golfers.

Safeguarding– ensuring your club has appropriate policies and procedures in place.

Golf clubs are asked to meet a number of ‘essential requirements’ in the four areas which are a set of standards aligned to Sport England’s Clubmark criteria and will be maintained annually by golf clubs supported through an annual action plan.

John Warren Captain of the Seniors Section said: “It is the first time Thornbury have entered this competition and it was great to win the trophy."