THE ‘Investment in young persons’ policy at Ross Golf Club continues to hit the headlines since it was first introduced in 2012 when Head Professional and now also Director of Golf Tim Hall, was appointed and brought his ‘School of Golf’ to the Wye Valley Club from Cleobury Mortimer GC, reports KEITH RAY.
This year the Junior Development programme expertly managed by Assistant Professionals James Dobbs and Zach Galliford has again excelled resulting in the squad of young people in their care winning the Gloucestershire County ‘Golf Sixes’ league and a repeat of the Ross Club’s success in 2018.
The Golf Sixes league involves children playing six holes in pairs using the inclusive Texas Scramble format, accumulating points for their team of six.
This format is designed for non-handicap players and trialled in 2017 with the support of Sport England through the Golf Foundation, with the league created to give juniors the chance to play in a competitive golf environment with other local golf clubs.
This year has seen the Ross squad competing in seven competitive rounds against teams from Minchinhampton, The Kendleshire, Bristol and Clifton, Thornbury and Brickhampton Golf Clubs.
It was the Ross team’s fine performance in the season’s last match at the Kendleshire GC in South Gloucestershire which resulted in them being declared ‘Champions’ with 35 points followed by Minchinhampton with 31 points and Thornbury with 29 points.
The Trophy success was very much a collective achievement from Ralphie Elliott, Liam Frost, Alex Griffiths, Harvey Gunn, Georgina Madge, Jack Shelley, Fin Speller and twins Billy and Olli Walker, and they can all take great credit.