Leanne aims to build on national award
Llanwern assistant professional Leanne Coooper is looking to build on her work at the club after receiving a top national award in recognition of her efforts.
Kiwi Cooper is delighted to have received the Sinclair Award from the Golf foundation for her development work, increasing the number of junior golfers at her club from seven to just over 100.
Assistant golf pro Leanne Cooper has also seen the number of girls playing take off at her club Llanwern in Newport, with none playing golf there before she arrived - now 33 are taking part in the junior coaching.
Her efforts after joining just over a year ago have seen more than 50 new members join the club with another 20 Little League members, earning her a nomination for the Sinclair Award from the Golf Foundation.
She was presented with the award in Wentworth by Golf Foundation president Ken Schofield.
“You do not really expect it, you just go in there and do what needs to be done but it has been a good year so I have enjoyed it,” said Cooper.
“It is just getting girls and families involved really and the numbers have gone up, we have tried to make it accessible and the academy course is really part of that.
“They had started looking at having an academy course, then I went to a PGA meeting where they said how much small pitch and putt courses had made an impact.
“I started looking at how we could make our area look like a proper course, getting the appeal, so it went from there and soon we set up competitions for the juniors and parents got involved.”
Twenty five club volunteers have been trained as Tri – Golf Activators and assist in coaching in the local Primary Schools. This has meant that over 100 children have had the opportunity to work towards the Tri golf level of the junior golf passport.
Cooper also introduced a low cost “Little League” which involves supervised weekly competitions, an Order of Merit and handicap system and a “Little League Ryder Cup” foursomes matchplay competition with family BBQ.
Families are also high on Leanne’s agenda. Parents and families are encouraged to participate in group coaching lessons. Participants are offered low cost membership for the Mini Course so they can play golf with their children.
“It has been a great team to work with, Steve Price the professional there has given me lots of leeway and support to build on what he started.
“The club has been proactive and they realised they needed to look at membership and bring in families.”
After coming over from New Zealand, Cooper is awaiting her final results for the PGA exams to become a fully fledged club professional.
“We have been in the UK for seven years, three years in London and then moved to Newport,” she said.
“We are waiting on the PGA results, we will see through the end of the year and take it from there.”
Cooper has also focused her development work with Newport Community Groups located in areas that are low on the social deprivation index. The groups use golf as a diversionary activity to reduce crime and disorder and aims to give children a positive experience.
She coached many of these ‘at risk’ groups as part of the Communities First scheme and hosted and helped organise a Summer Community Golf festival for over 70 ‘at risk youths’. Free lessons were given as prizes
Cooper also works with local special needs groups leading fun Tri –Golf sessions and set up Children's Golf parties at local council-operated leisure centres using tri-golf equipment to encourage wider participation.
She initiated a Club Newsletter which Golf Development Wales use as an example on their website, has developed a 5 x 60 Golf Xtreme programme in local High Schools which rolls out in Spring 2009 and set up a Club partnership with “Going for Gold” healthy living scheme in Newport schools and businesses.