Royal Ascot Golf Club has seen a huge increase in membership of its junior academy, following a campaign to encourage youngsters to try the sport. 

As part of a youth engagement strategy the club has collaborated with local schools and community groups to provide golf tuition sessions for youngsters. The club designated a dedicated welfare officer and three PGA Qualified Professionals to deliver the sessions.

The campaign has seen youngsters get into the swing of golf, with the Junior Academy now boasting an impressive 99 members. The club’s Young Adult Section for under 35s has also seen its membership rise by 50% since the COVID 19 pandemic.

Royal Ascot Golf Club’s efforts have been rewarded with an England Golf Safegolf accreditation, recognising its promotion of a safe and positive environment for those participating, working and volunteering in golf.

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, said: “It’s vitally important that our club remains fit for the future so it is great to see more and more young people deciding to get into the sport through our safe, structured golf sessions delivered by qualified professionals.  

“Our ambition is for the club to be embedded as a key part of the community.

“To achieve this, we’ve made positive changes to ensure golf remains appealing and accessible to local people, and we have frozen increases in junior membership fees for the past three seasons.

“In addition to our outreach for junior players, we have expanded our under 35s Young Adult and New to Golf academies, refurbished our clubhouse facilities and are currently upgrading our Wi-Fi infrastructure to encourage flexible working at the club.

“The result of our changes has been to transform our age profile with a younger and more engaged membership than at any point in our recent history. We encourage youngsters and anyone interested in taking up the sport to explore the opportunities we have available.”

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of the woodland of historic Windsor Great Park off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse.

Work to transform Royal Ascot Golf Club’s 18-hole course into one of the UK’s leading playing facilities has started – and £500,000 has been committed to the project.

The move is part of a long-term investment strategy to enhance the playing and social experience for members and visitors alike.  As a course which already provides an all year round challenge, the investment will enhance it’s reputation as one of the most enviable courses in the area.

Each hole will be upgraded by enhancing drainage and irrigation provisions, bunkers will be renovated and new treelines created. The course will also look to establish signature holes and regenerate pathways on the 150-acre wooded crownland site to improve accessibility.

It forms part of a wider programme of investments at the club with other projects including developments to the onsite clubhouse and hospitality options, the creation of a new swing studio, extended pro shop and a fresh commitment to attracting new players to the sport.

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, said course improvements will strengthen the through the door experience and value for our members.

“Providing outstanding facilities for club members, guests and those using off-course provisions is our number one priority,” said Stephen. “We are committed to establishing Royal Ascot Golf Club as one of the UK’s top courses.

“Our major investment into all 18 holes forms a key part of achieving this long-term goal and we’re pleased to begin the latest phase of on course developments.

“Golf has exploded in popularity since the turn of the decade, with 5.6million adults in the UK playing a nine or 18-hole course in 2022 alone. The proven physical benefits of participation coupled with the social aspect of the club’s thriving social scene mean we have experienced this uplift first-hand.

“Our intention is to continue building on this positive trend by delivering the highest quality playing facilities possible – and our investment into the course sits at the heart of this.”

The current phase of works will see holes one, nine, ten and eighteen upgraded with an additional round of development planned in the new year.

In charge of the renovation is Royal Ascot Golf Club Course Manager Ian Hockley, who next year celebrates 10 years at the Winkfield Road course which is Berkshire’s second oldest and the only to have a Royal title.

He said: “It’s an exciting time to be on the ground at Royal Ascot Golf Club as our course undergoes its biggest upgrade since moving over from the racecourse.

“The existing layout has been a popular year-round challenge for both our members and guests. But this investment will unlock the course’s true potential and we’re excited for the future.

“Tee-times during works will remain unaffected and we thank our loyal members for their support of this project which, once complete, will attract new and existing players.”

Royal Ascot Golf Club is backing efforts to boost links with other local sports clubs through a series of friendlies across three disciplines.

The latest fixture saw the golf club join forces with Ascot United FC by swapping irons and footballs for bats and stumps to face off against a mixed-ability side at Royal Ascot Cricket Club, who scraped to victory by just three runs.

The community-spirited events are part of Royal Ascot Golf Club’s ambition to cement its status as a go-to social venue locally.

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, said: “While naturally disappointed with the result, an enjoyable day was had by all and we extend our congratulations to Royal Ascot CC.

“Participating in these events and interacting with players and supporters from the football and cricket teams underscores the importance we place on the social aspects of our club.

“The friendlies provide us with an opportunity to demonstrate that Royal Ascot Golf Club is a welcoming, inclusive social venue for everyone in the community.

“Whether you’d like to attend a quiz or dance organised by the social committee or enjoy the two bars in our clubhouse and restaurant for a meal or private function, we encourage local people to make use of our fantastic facilities.”

Sam Knight, Events Manager at Ascot United FC, said: “Participating in these events with our friends from Royal Ascot CC and Royal Ascot golf club only build on what is already a fantastic relationship. It was a closely fought game played in great spirits with RACC taking the honours but as in boxing we’ve got them contractually obliged to a rematch."

Mark Wiggett, Chair of Royal Ascot CC, said: “RACC were delighted to host the first challenge T20 cricket match in glorious late-summer sunshine. A high-quality game ended in the tightest of finishes but the friendly competitiveness made the game so enjoyable. We look forward to this becoming an annual event and strengthening the community relationships between all the clubs."

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of the splendid woodland of Windsor Great Park, off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse.

Further information about the course, membership and onsite provisions including its seven-day-a-week restaurant and function space is available via www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk.

A golf enthusiast who first learnt to play at her local course during the COVID-19 pandemic is encouraging others to tee-off by trying their hand at one of the UK’s fastest growing sports.

Lesley O’Doherty opted for life on the fairway following her retirement three years ago and is now a fully-fledged member at Royal Ascot Golf Club in Berkshire where she plays in tournaments and is part of the club’s thriving social scene.

Her new-found passion was facilitated by the course’s Golf Academy Scheme, which is managed by PGA Professional Rob Daw.

Designed for players of all abilities and experiences, the Academy targets individuals looking to take their first steps in golf and existing players wishing to hone their skills via group lessons, one-on-one sessions and integrating into the club’s buddy scheme.

Now playing off a handicap 14 shots lower to when she first started, Lesley hopes to encourage a new generation of golfers to experience the sport’s health and social benefits.

“Golf has always interested myself and I had played some par-three courses years ago with my husband,” said Lesley. “But I started at Royal Ascot as a complete novice with very little knowledge or skill of the game.

“Golf is a social sport, so joining alone with no experience might seem a bit daunting. But I was made very welcome and with Rob’s support the process of developing my skills on the course was very enjoyable.

“The social aspect is really important. I’ve found golf to be a great way to meet new, likeminded, people who I can play with in a relaxed environment that keeps me active and in the outdoors.”

Data from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf revealed golf participation across the UK rose to 5.6million in 2022. This figure represents the second highest number of players on record and is an increase of 1.9million people since 2019.

In addition, 20% of adult players were female last year compared to just 15% in 2019 while research by the R&A revealed the average golfer lives five years longer than non-golfers with a typical 18-hole course burning 2,000 calories.

Lesley added: “People value their mental and physical wellbeing differently now compared to before the outbreak of COVID-19.

“Golf gives me the perfect excuse to be outside, get moving and integrate with others in a world where it can be so easy to live in your own bubble. I couldn’t recommend Royal Ascot Golf Club’s Academy scheme and taking up golf generally enough.

“It’s been a great experience for me and can hopefully encourage others to engage with the sport.”

Royal Ascot Golf Club PGA Professional Rob Daw added: “Lesley’s story epitomises how golf can be enjoyed by people of all ages, experiences and even those without a prior touchpoint to the sport.

“Our Academy was established with the primary purpose of engaging new players and helping people develop their skills on the course. We’re pleased to see Lesley has followed this pathway and look forward to following her progress.”

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of wooded Crown land off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse.

Further information about the course’s Academy is available via www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk.

Academy membership includes 12 x 30 minute lessons, 6 x 1 hour group sessions, social membership, 10 x 9 hole green fee vouchers, one driving range token each day, discounted lessons and green fees, an introduction to the club’s buddy scheme and quarterly golf events.

Ends

Royal Ascot Golf Club members were whisked into the professional limelight like never before during the 56th staging of the course’s annual Club Championships this month.

The Berkshire course invited 120 of its members to participate in the historic two-day competition which was first staged in 1967 with players competing to win the Derek Lane Trophy.

For the first time, the tournament featured a mix of live scoring, player PA announcements and major branding boards around selected tees to give a Professional Tour feel to the club’s premiere members event.

After the initial field was cut to 60 following a day’s play, Tom Webb won the men’s competition via a four-hole play-off with Gordon Barr while Gayle Kennedy was triumphant in the women’s event by a staggering 16 shots. Meanwhile the nett winners – after handicap - across the two days were Gordon Barr and Antoinette Marx.

Members, guests and visitors then celebrated players’ achievements in the clubhouse afterwards with an all-welcome barbecue with music as part of the club’s community ethos.

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, said: “The Club Championships is a real highlight among our growing membership base.

“It’s an opportunity for members to secure the bragging rights for the year while enjoying an event which has sat at the heart of our social calendar for more than 50 years.

“Conditions across the two days were challenging, but the course held up really well and remains in fantastic order before work begins this autumn to invest further in our drainage and bunker renovations plus the surrounding landscape.

“We were especially pleased to bring in additional elements to this year’s Championship such as PA announcements, live scoring and additional branding boards which really added to the atmosphere on both days.

“Events of this kind epitomise how we intend to drive our long-term vision to being an inclusive, friendly, social and welcoming club while being committed to the development and awareness of golf locally.

“Congratulations to Tom and Gayle for becoming the latest names to be engrained on our Club Championships honours board and we look forward to next year’s event in, hopefully, more seasonal weather!”

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of the splendid woodland of Windsor Great Park, off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse.

Further information about the course, membership and onsite provisions including its seven-day-a-week restaurant and function space is available via www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk.