Bush Hill Park Golf Club praised for supporting community over last year

Bush Hill Park Golf Club has been named ‘club of the year’ for its community-focused response to the pandemic.

National sports body England Golf praised the club in Bush Hill for “developing its facilities, growing its membership and connecting with the local area like never before” in the past year.

During the pandemic, perishable food and drinks were donated by the club to a homeless charity, while 100 food parcels were delivered to members who were forced to self-isolate. A takeaway food service was also successful, with 2,500 portions of fish and chips or curry being sold to hungry golfers who were denied their usual visit to the clubhouse restaurant because of restrictions.

More than 160 new members have joined Bush Hill Park since March 2020, with the club’s “positive and engaging presence on social media” credited with raising the club’s profile online and attracting new audiences.

The club has also become a signatory to the Women in Golf Charter and developed a new women’s affiliate programme which has attracted more than 40 beginners and put 26 women on track for full membership, saying it is “fully committed to encouraging more women and girls to find enjoyment and healthy exercise through golf”.

Improvements to Bush Hill Park Golf Club’s course over the last year include new bunkers, toilet facilities and a ‘halfway hut’. Using money received via an England Golf Covid-19 grant, the club was also able to build five undercover practice bays and install a new chipping area.

Stewart Judd, the club’s general manager, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the club and a testament to the efforts of the entire Bush Hill Park Golf Club community, who pulled together to support members and the wider community and to take the club forwards in the most trying of times.”

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