MALGF

BACKGROUND AND FOUNDATION PURPOSE

Supporting the development of junior golfers at Letchworth GC

The Mike Amos Letchworth Golf Foundation

Within the heart of Letchworth Golf Club exists an independent Golf Foundation whose sole aim is to open opportunities for all our youngsters and their development in the game. Named after a former club president, Mike Amos, who gave so much to county and junior golf, the Mike Amos Letchworth Golf Foundation (MALGF) is supported by the club, its members, and local companies who give generously to its fundraising activities. This funding contributes towards mentoring, coaching, competition and event entry fees, travel, and subsistence of juniors of all ages and skill levels as they progress forward as juniors and on towards the senior ranks.

MALGF was formed 16 years ago by former club captain John Cole. Since John's passing, MALGF is chaired by another former club captain and past president, Tony Parker. Alongside Tony as Trustees of the Foundation are LGC Club members,  Paul Shadbolt, Stuart Guyton, Charles McKay, Tracey Culliford and Peter Richardson.

Through its trustees, MALGF works closely with Letchworth Golf Club, its PGA Professional and specifically the junior section of the club in identifying and targeting financial support for the engagement, development, and recognition of young members at all levels of junior golf. MALGF has built sustainable financial reserves to significantly contribute to the LGC junior section. Our finances are raised from the ‘John Cole Memorial Golf Day' held annually in May at Letchworth Golf Club. The Club itself provides MALGF with full access to the golf course. This enables the Foundation to run an 18-hole golf competition for twenty-four teams of four. The day's golf is followed by a dinner, raffle, and auction. MALGF receives fantastic support from local business and LGC members, with all this activity providing the revenue for the Foundation to then invest back into junior golf at LGC.

The MALGF support model has evolved over the last 16 years and has resulted in the following definitions of Elite, Core and Starters within the LGC junior section.

 o   Elite junior golfers, selected by MALGF, are given playing budgets or expense ceilings. These budgets cover County, National and Open competitions, and events. ‘Elite' is usually defined as 2 or lower (Male Juniors) and 5 or lower (female Juniors) playing handicap.

o   Core junior golfers supported by MALGF are recommended by the junior section and there is usually a parental contribution towards Coaching, Inter-club and County/Open tournaments and events.

o   Claimants (for MALGF funding) be they Elite or Core juniors must always get clearance from MALGF before entering competitions and incurring costs. MALGF recognises that playing tournament golf is a key stage of a junior's development. Our funding criteria would normally be set on encouraging entry to Open or County competitions and, as the junior(s) progresses, later to regional or high profile ‘named' competitions.

o   New Starters to golf at LGC receive support with extensive Coaching and Development programmes, funded by MALGF and LGC and delivered by the PGA Professionals at Letchworth Golf Club. MALGF is also highly active financially in supporting local initiatives such as the North Herts Schools Golf Project. Please read on for further information and details.

o   MALGF sets itself the annual goal of financially re-investing what it raises through the John Cole Memorial Golf Day, into the junior golfers at Letchworth Golf Club. Our resources are extensive but not unlimited hence the essential need, whether an Elite, Core, or new Starter, for early engagement with the MALGF.

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The Constition of The Mike Amos Letchworth Golf Foundation -   /uploads/letchworth/File/Constitution v3.pdf

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2024/25 INVESTMENT PLANS & PGA TRAINEES

Here is a further update and news of our investment plans after what was a hugely successful John Cole Memorial Day on the 16th May this year. Our thanks to all of you who participated on the day or who contributed either financially or with your time and energy in your support of the event and of the Foundation.  

The 2024 John Cole Memorial Golf Day overall generated a new record sum of £23,100, a genuinely remarkable amount, and reflective of the generosity of the members of this club, sponsors, guests, and everyone who attended the day.

Having raised such a huge amount of funds on the day, as Trustees we wish to share with you how those funds will be allocated and spent over the next 12 months and beyond.

The first and arguably most exciting news is the MALGF collaboration with Letchworth Golf Club and the club's Head PGA Professional Neil McLaughlan on the recruitment of two PGA Trainees.   

18-year-old Sian Pickford and fellow 18-year-old Hayden Shackcloth officially started their traineeships on the 2nd of September. Both Sian and Hayden have enrolled on the 3-year PGA Foundation degree course (FdSc). MALGF will support both Sian and Hayden with 50% of their course fees over the full 3 years of the degree. This represents an annual investment of £4,650 and would not have been possible without the generosity of our friends and supporters.  

Letchworth Golf Clubs PGA Trainees                 

                                              Sian Pickford                            Hayden Shackcloth                                           

It is expected that both Sian and Hayden will begin active coaching after completing their first-year studies, providing additional resource to an already motivated team of PGA coaches. They will further increase the focus on LGC junior members and, alongside providing ‘coaching for all', will assist in the development transition channel for juniors from Academy to Heritage membership, and the pathway to Elite playing standard.

In addition to the funding for Sian and Hayden, MALGF will invest the balance of the monies raised from the 2024 John Cole Memorial Golf Day in the following ways:

Continued support of the Letchworth Junior Golf Development Programme (formerly known as the North Herts Schools Golf Project). This supports the stream of junior talent through what is now a very professional coaching structure for all levels of Juniors at LGC - £7000
Elite Golf - Coaching, Event and Tournament fee funding for selected young golfers with high potential and serious aspirations  - £6000
LGC Junior section assistance to enable new initiatives, events, tournaments, competitions and prizes - £5000
Other selected initiatives designed to widen the availability of golf for young people - £1000

Recruiting and financing two young PGA trainees is a major first for Letchworth Golf Club and demonstrates the close working partnership between MALGF, Letchworth Golf Club, and Head PGA Professional Neil McLaughlan and his team of PGA Professionals. This three-way association further shows the long-term commitment and investment into junior golf at Letchworth GC and our thanks go to Head Professional Neil, the Board of Directors, General Manager Jim Abraham, Esther Strous and Rich Moore, for their support and cooperation.

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SUCCESS STORIES

Junior golfers at Letchworth Golf Club have all benefitted from MALGF in some way since its inception 15 years ago. Three of the most successful of recent times are Robert Holden, Jack Slater, and Laurie Owen. Laurie, who was a past Junior Champion, Men's Club Champion twice in 2011 and 2015 and who has recently relinquished his Pro license to return to amateur status, said this about the Foundation: “The Mike Amos Golf Foundation helped me massively during my amateur career and I can't thank them enough for the support they gave to me.”

Please click on the links below to read more about Laurie, Robert and Jack's golfing journeys since joining LGC as Juniors.

Laurie Owen profile:  uploads/letchworth/File/MALGF/AMOS Profile - Laurie Owen .pdf

Robert Holden profile:   uploads/letchworth/File/MALGF/AMOS - Robert Holden Profile .pdf

Jack Slater profile:  uploads/letchworth/File/MALGF/AMOS Profile - Jack Slater .pdf

The MALGF has been active with the development and financing of the North Herts Schools Golf Project. This centred on 6

schools in the North Herts area, many of  whom have adopted golf at LGC as part of their PE curriculum. The last 2 years has seen over 800 children being introduced to golf for the first time through the project. More local schools enrolled onto the project in 2023. This coincided with the launch in early 2024 of the joint LGC/MALGF Junior Golf Scholarship Programme. The Scholarship Programme is centred on investment in golf coaching at both a Starter and Core level. The coaching programme is led by the PGA professionals at LGC, funded by MALGF and supported by LGC. The aim is to attract, develop and retain junior golfers of all abilities as either Academy or Heritage members here at Letchworth Golf Club.  

Golf is such an excellent sport to enhance the well-being of young people in the community with its unique combination of discipline, fitness and social interaction, and the partnership between the Mike Amos Letchworth Golf Foundation and Letchworth Golf Club is certainly playing its part in promoting this. 

The Mike Amos Letchworth Golf Foundation 2024