Here are the finalists for England Golf’s 2019 awards

Here is the shortlist of the finalists for the England Golf Awards 2019, sponsored by adidas Golf.

“They’re the heroes of the game in England and they’ll be celebrated at the awards dinner at the Royal Lancaster London on Thursday, 21 March, when the winners will be revealed,” said England Golf press officer Lyndsey Hewison.

Nick Pink, England Golf chief executive, added: “A very big thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and to the judges, who had an incredibly difficult job to produce this shortlist of amazing volunteers, players, clubs and counties.

“They all contribute so much to the sport that we all love and we look forward to telling their stories over the coming weeks, as we build up to our gala dinner.

“Their contribution to golf in England is immeasurable and they really do make the game great.”

Tickets for the black tie awards dinner, hosted by Dan Walker, are just £90 each and include drinks on arrival and a three-course dinner with half a bottle of wine per person.

Some of the 2018 winners

The finalists:

Most Welcoming Club of the Year, sponsored by HowDidiDo

Branston Golf & Country Club, Staffordshire

Burghill Valley Golf Club, Herefordshire

Exeter Golf and Country Club, Devon

Horton Park Golf Club, Surrey

Coach of the Year, sponsored by The PGA

Philip Akers – PGA National Golf Academy, The Belfry, Warwickshire

Stuart Disney – The Mendip Golf Club, Somerset

Mark Johnson – Styal Golf Club, Cheshire

Aaron Lansberry – Hatchford Brook Golf Centre, Warwickshire

In this category, Philip Akers, pictured top right, has introduced over 2,400 newcomers to golf, developing the junior, women’s, improvers and advanced sections of the academy, since he joined The Belfry.

Stuart Disney, pictured bottom left, has made a big impact in a short time. He’s been at Mendip Golf Club in Somerset for just 18 months, bringing masses of enthusiasm to his role.

He’s opened a swing studio, he’s busy with Get into Golf and has introduced new golfers to the club – running new member days to help them settle in. He’s grown the junior section from a handful of youngsters to over 50 members and he coaches at four local schools.

Mark Johnson, pictured bottom right, is inspirational in many ways, not least for meeting the challenge of two kidney transplants. Professionally, he raises the bar on running a junior section and freely shares his knowledge with other clubs and coaches.

Johnson works with golfers of all ages but has inspired juniors at Styal Golf Club for 18 years and helped the club achieve GolfMark and SafeGolf.

He runs junior coaching, finds sponsorship, organises matches and competitions, including the David Horsey Styal Junior Open. Horsey, a former club junior and now a four-time European Tour winner, attends the event.

Johnson is also a great fundraiser, running an annual ‘Lads v Dads’ day for charities including Kidneys for Life and has raised almost £12,000 so far.

Aaron Lansberry, pictured top left, teaches all ages, but he’s particularly known for coaching around 140 children every week at Hatchford Brook Golf Centre, near Birmingham.

Lansberry comments: “A lot of people have helped me along the way, everyone at Hatchford Brook, all the parents of the kids I coach and my brilliant team of coaches and volunteers.”

Innovation Award of the Year, sponsored by Players 1st

AL Golf Junior Academies, Hatchford Brook Golf Centre, Warwickshire

Mytime Active at Bromley and Orpington Golf Centres, Kent

Golf Access

Slinfold Golf and Country Club, Sussex

Young Ambassador of the Year, in association with the Golf Foundation

Ella Baker – GL Golf at Warley Woods Golf Club, Worcestershire

Louise McLoughlin – Bromborough Golf Club, Cheshire

Jessica Pilgrim – Stoke Park Golf Club, Buckinghamshire

Georgina Wrixon – Ashley Wood Golf Club, Dorset

(Clockwise from top left): Jessica Pilgrim, Ella Baker, Georgina Wrixon and Louise McLoughlin

 Performance of the Year

England men’s team

Conor Gough of Stoke Park Golf Club, Buckinghamshire

Mitch Waite of Filton Golf Club, Gloucestershire

Caitlin Whitehead of Carus Green Golf Club, Cumbria

Championship Venue of the Year

Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire

Kedleston Park Golf Club, Derbyshire

Sherwood Forest Golf Club, Nottinghamshire

Stanton on the Wolds Golf Club, Nottinghamshire

County of the Year

Lancashire

Wiltshire

Volunteer of the Year

Mark Feeney – West Derby Golf Club, Lancashire

Susanne Lesley and Owen Lewis – Royal Ascot Golf Club, Berkshire

Judith Sandford – Cheadle Golf Club, Cheshire

Marcella Tuttle – The Links Golf Club, Newmarket.

For this category, Mark Feeney has revitalised a junior section. Susanne Lesley and Owen Davis have smoothed the way for over 200 new members. Judith Sandford has given a new lease of life to her club’s ladies’ section. And Marcella Tuttle is combatting dwindling women’s membership. 

The outright winner of the Lifetime Service Award will also be recognised at the dinner.