Royal Norwich’s Nickie Clarke honoured at golf awards
Norfolk county president Nickie Clarke with her award at Loughborough University. - Credit: Loughborough University
Norfolk's Nickie Clarke has been recognised as one of England's top golf volunteers.
Nickie, from Royal Norwich, won the women's Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to Golf at the England Golf Partnership's annual Volunteer of the Year Awards.
She commented: 'I am extremely proud to receive this award and feel very humble to have been chosen when there are so many other volunteers who have done just as much. I have found it so rewarding to get involved and recommend to everyone to put something back into the game by volunteering, you won't regret it.'
Nickie has volunteered in golf at every level – club, county and country – for over 30 years. She's been captain at her club, a county team player and Norfolk captain twice and she's currently county president. She also runs the county ladies' website.
She chaired the former English Ladies' Golf Association and captained England teams for three years. Nickie has also been jointly responsible for the project to reassess the scratch score of ladies' courses in England.
Nickie also plays a key role in the recruitment of new golfers as a founding member of the Norfolk Golf Partnership, which grows the game in the county. She has a particular interest in the County Academy Programme for youngsters.
Other winners at the awards dinner at the County Golf Development Conference at Loughborough University were: Charlotte Stanton of Staffordshire – young volunteer of the year, Wendy Wootton of Suffolk - Club Development Award, Bev Dodd of Lancashire – volunteer coach of the year, Alan Covey of Sussex – county development award, Kevin Whalley of Herts - lifetime achievement award for services to golf (male).
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They were applauded by a packed conference hall made up of those leading the EGP's vision to 'Grow the Game' through the County Golf Partnership structure.
Phil Beard, the EGP's Volunteer Manager, said: 'These volunteers are wonderful people who give up their time to inspire others to take up and enjoy golf. They play a crucial part in growing the game and these awards recognise and underline their importance.'
The national volunteering programme is delivered via the England Golf Partnership's 'Whole Sport Plan' and is an integral part of the England Golf Partnership's vision to grow the game.
Last year Carol Delf of Great Yarmouth and Caister won the county development volunteer of the year award and Bawburgh won the GolfMark club of the year.
