Key Points
- Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club has won the Wales Golf Women and Girls Project of the Year Award for its programme helping schoolgirls across Cardiff into golf and developing their leadership potential.
- The initiative involved nearly 50 Year 8 girls from North Cardiff secondary schools, aligned with the Curriculum for Wales and supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The award, supported by Great Days Golf, was presented at the Annual Wales Golf Awards at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse, Celtic Manor.
- The programme introduced girls to life skills including communication, teamwork, healthy bones, friendship, and trust, often replacing traditional PE lessons.
- Sessions were hosted with Wales Golf and Whitchurch Golf Club in Rhiwbina, involving pupils from Whitchurch High School and Llanishen High School.
- Whitchurch General Manager Paul Crowe expressed pride in the programme and its national recognition.
- The award recognises innovation, commitment, and positive impact in growing women and girls’ participation in golf, fostering inclusivity and membership growth.
Whitchurch, (Cardiff Daily) April 17, 2026 – Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club has received the Wales Golf Women and Girls Project of the Year Award for its pioneering programme that introduced schoolgirls to golf while building their leadership skills. The award highlights the club’s efforts with Year 8 girls from North Cardiff secondary schools, with almost 50 participants completing the innovative initiative developed alongside Wales Golf.
The programme, known as Leadership in Sport – Girls to Golf, targeted 12- and 13-year-old students from Whitchurch High School and Llanishen High School. As reported by staff writers at The Golf Business, the project aligned with the Curriculum for Wales and supported United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on life skills such as communication, teamwork, the importance of healthy bones, and the power of friendship and trust.
What Made Whitchurch’s Programme Stand Out?
The award celebrates golf clubs and partnerships demonstrating exceptional commitment to increasing participation among women and girls.
According to coverage in Rhiwbina Info, sessions were hosted at Whitchurch Golf Club in Rhiwbina with support from Wales Golf, where a golf professional often replaced traditional PE lessons to ensure all girls could participate.
Whitchurch General Manager Paul Crowe stated, as quoted by The Golf Business,
“Everyone at the club is proud of this innovative programme itself and the recognition it has now received at a national level.”
The initiative not only encouraged golf participation but also empowered girls to take on leadership roles, helping to support and motivate peers while building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and communication skills.
The accolade, supported by Great Days Golf, was presented at the Annual Wales Golf Awards, sponsored by Toptracer, held at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse at the Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor.
This event recognised projects that successfully encouraged participation, increased membership, and fostered a welcoming, inclusive environment for women and girls in Welsh golf.
How Did the Programme Integrate Education and Sport?
The Leadership in Sport – Girls to Golf initiative introduced participants to a range of life skills alongside golf. Coverage from The Golf Business detailed how the programme developed in line with the Curriculum for Wales, addressing barriers to participation and promoting holistic development.
As noted in Rhiwbina Info, many pupils assumed leadership roles during sessions, which aimed to build essential soft skills.
The project’s structure allowed girls to engage fully, with golf professionals facilitating activities that were accessible and engaging, often integrated into school timetables.
Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club, located three and a half miles north of Cardiff city centre on elevated ground, provided the ideal setting for these sessions. The club’s involvement underscored its role in community outreach, particularly in North Cardiff.
Who Were the Key Partners and Participants?
Wales Golf played a central role in partnering with Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club to deliver the programme. Nearly 50 Year 8 girls from North Cardiff secondary schools, specifically Whitchurch High School and Llanishen High School, participated.
The Golf Business reported that the project’s success lay in its innovative approach, which combined sport with educational goals.
Paul Crowe’s comments highlighted the collective pride at the club, reflecting broad internal support for the initiative.
Additional coverage on the Whitchurch Golf Club website under club news confirmed the win of the inaugural Women and Girls Project Award on 24 March 2026, as posted by the Club Administrator.
What Is the Significance of the Wales Golf Awards?
The Wales Golf Awards recognise outstanding contributions to the sport across various categories. The Women and Girls Project of the Year specifically honours clubs leading in creating opportunities for the next generation.
Held at the prestigious Celtic Manor, the event sponsored by Toptracer brought together stakeholders from Welsh golf. The Golf Business noted that Whitchurch’s project exemplified innovation and positive impact, setting a benchmark for inclusivity.
Rhiwbina Info emphasised the programme’s outstanding impact, positioning it among winners for its role in school partnerships.
Background of the Development
Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club has long been embedded in the Cardiff community, situated north of the city with a clubhouse and course on elevated ground conducive to golf activities. The Women and Girls Project of the Year Award stems from Wales Golf’s broader efforts to grow female participation, addressing historical underrepresentation in the sport.
This particular programme evolved from collaborations between local schools and golf bodies, aligning with national educational standards like the Curriculum for Wales. Previous initiatives, such as those referenced in club news, indicate a progression towards youth-focused projects, with this award marking a national milestone announced around March 2026. The partnership model with schools like Whitchurch High and Llanishen High reflects a strategic response to SDGs, particularly those related to gender equality and quality education.
Prediction: Impact on Young Girls in Welsh Golf
This development can affect young girls in Welsh golf by providing a replicable model for school-based programmes that blend sport with leadership training, potentially increasing participation rates among 12- to 13-year-olds in North Cardiff and beyond.
Schools may adopt similar PE integrations, leading to sustained membership growth at clubs like Whitchurch and heightened awareness of golf as an inclusive activity. Participants could carry forward skills like teamwork and resilience into further education or sports, while Wales Golf might expand such projects nationally, fostering long-term diversity in the sport without guaranteed outcomes.
