Helen Searle has taken on a key role to support East Lancashire golf clubs to grow the game.

She is a new England Golf Club Support Officer and will be helping clubs to strengthen their business and to attract more players and members.

Golf has been a huge part of Helen’s life since she starting playing at the age of ten. Since then the sport has taken her all over the world, competing at national and international level as an amateur before entering the professional ranks and attaining her PGA degree.

Now, as a Club Support Officer, Helen will be helping clubs and golf facilities to maximise their potential, bring a new generation into the sport and reward the loyalty of members and competitors.

Helen said: “I aim to showcase what every club, big or small, has to offer, whether it’s a great place to learn the game or a venue to hold future national events.

“I now have the resources and the tools to provide clubs and facilities with extensive support, tailored to their specific needs. I hope clubs will get me in, talk me through where they are now and where they want to be. Then we have a starting point and can build a strategy and commit to an action plan.”

England Golf’s strategy, Growing the game of golf in England, focusses on the customer and the importance of providing them with the golfing experience they want, whether that’s competitive play, social opportunities or short format golf which fits into busy lifestyles.

It also has the over-arching aim of encouraging more women and girls into golf. Currently only 15% of club members are women, but research shows that 640,000 women and girls are interested in taking up the sport.

Among the initiatives Helen will be promoting is the Get into Golf campaign, which offers great value coaching opportunities to new and improving players.

Richard Brown, England Golf Senior Regional Manager, commented: “I am sure Helen will be a tremendous asset to the county and will support the clubs to increase participation and club membership.”

Contact Helen at h.searle@englandgolf.org For more information on Get into golf visit www.getintogolf.org