The Bert Pryce Academy Course & Practice Area
BACKGROUND:
The club identified a significant gap in our pathway into golf for juniors and those new to the sport. We have a close affiliation with Whitestake Golf Driving Range where many people ‘have a go’ and may even have lessons, but it isn’t then easy to transfer this to the course or a handicap due to this ‘gap’. We have our resident PGA Professionals as well as a healthy membership; however, we certainly have room for more Juniors as well as the largest growth area in golf – Women. We are keen to fully tap in to this demographic, knowing how fantastic a sport golf is, not only with its physical benefits, but also social and mental health benefits too.
We have introduced a number of initiatives to tackle this imbalance, but the potential for housing a 6-hole, par 3 Academy Course linked to the practice ground was rightly seen as a great step in making that pathway more seamless. The introduction of this facility will add benefit to all members, as it continues to function as a practice area, but can now also be used for group lessons, juniors, fun competitions as well as helping new golfers track their progress as they improve. It also introduces the new members to the social side of golf and the wider golf community at Penwortham.
OFFICIAL OPENING:
On 16th March 2022 the club was honoured to have Seniors Tour Professional golfer Paul Eales returning to his former course to officially open the Academy Course. Paul is well known for being a former European Tour player (winning on one occasion and playing in The Open Championship 7 times). As well as playing on the Senior’s Tour Paul is also an accomplished analyst and commentator for various media companies including Radio 5 Live and Sky Sports. Paul played at Penwortham as a Junior and he recalled that he’d spent many happy hours down on the practice area.
Paul was impressed with how the Club was continually striving to improve its facilities for existing members, acknowledging that we are the current guardians of a fantastic resource which can be treasured and enjoyed by many generations to come. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Paul played a couple of holes on the new course. Paul also played tribute to Mr Bert Pryce who the Academy Course has been named after.
Bert (Mr Pryce as he was known back then) was a former Head Teacher and also received an Honour from The Queen in recognition of his work with under-privileged children. We were honoured to have Bert’s daughter Susan Lleeo and her husband Mick at the official opening. Although she has never played golf herself, she has many fond memories of the Club, having worked there and served many of her father’s and mother’s friends. Her mother Eunice was also Lady Captain and Susan’s son often played with and caddied for his Grandad.
If you speak to any of our more ‘established’ members about Bert, you will only hear positive stories and happy memories. Bert was a keen gardener and planted many cyclamen around the course which brings such lovely colour to the wooded areas of the course in the winter months. Bert was Captain of the Golf Club in 1981 and President in 2000, but his passion lay in the support of juniors, especially under-privileged juniors. Following his passing in March 2001, John Ross went through the process of setting up the Bert Pryce Trust Fund, where juniors could be supported through any given pathway if they showed talent and promise.
Although Bert didn’t like too much fuss or being centre of attention, the Fund Trustees agreed that it would be right to name the Academy Course after Bert and Susan said it is a wonderful legacy to his memory.
John Wilson & Tony Jackson shared some lovely stories about Bert and the type of person he was, especially his main legacy to PGC, the masterpiece which is “PRIORY FIELDS”. This is a wonderful book about Penwortham Golf Club’s very interesting history, which took him many years to write (and finance) but was eventually published and was worth the wait.
ACADEMY MEMBERSHIPS
To support the different levels of peoples’ experience of golf, we have introduced two new Academy Membership options:
· ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP (aimed at Beginners) - £70 and includes:
o Induction with PGA Professional.
o 1-2-1 Lesson with a PGA Professional.
o Access to Academy Course for 12 months.
o Social Membership.
o Loyalty Card for Whitestake Driving Range.
· ACADEMY PLUS MEMBERSHIP (aimed at Intermediate golfers or those returning to the game) - £402 and includes:
Induction with PGA Professional.
9-hole course walk / lesson with a PGA Professional.
Twilight membership access to the main course.
Access to Academy Course.
Social Membership.
SUMMARY
The Bert Pryce Academy Course and Practice Area will be formally up and running for all members (old and new) from the beginning of April 2022. It is a 6-hole, par 3 course as per illustrative map below and doubles up as the main practice facility. We will hold initiatives such as Women on Par and junior group lessons on the course as well as fun activities. We are hoping to become one of the HSBC Golf Roots, Golf Foundation – Junior Centres of Excellence and will continue to work closely with England Golf to welcome all ages and abilities to this wonderful sport.
Thanks to the many who have supported this initiative and helped to create what is a wonderful addition to the facilities at Penwortham Golf Club.
Donna Brookes.
Charter Champion and Lady Captain 2022/23.
