Niamh Cripps nominated for the England Golf Volunteer of the Year and Young Ambassador of the Year sponsored by the Golf Foundation

Niamh Cripps is a 15 year old golfer who is a Young Ambassador for England Golf and the Golf Foundation and a member at Broome Manor Golf Complex near Swindon.

Niamh started  playing golf when she was 9 after the professional  from Broome Manor Golf Complex  went to her school and Niamh then went for a taster session and has loved it ever since.

She currently has a Handicap Index of 5.0.

She has a real passion for getting young people, in particular girls, to play golf and show them how it has helped her in all aspects of her life not just on the course.  

She has volunteered at her club with her coach, Lee Hayward, over the last 3 1/2 years.  

During 2020 and 2021 Niamh has continued to get more involved and been assisting in weekly lessons with the younger girls group coaching.  She has got involved in anything from assisting her coach, planning and developing games and warmups to planning and leading a full lesson.  The girls really look up to Niamh as a role model and when lockdown hit it she continued to support the girls by attending the girls’ virtual zoom lessons.

The following is a summary of the things that Niamh has been involved in throughout 2020 and 2021:-

Weekly group lessons with the younger girls; supporting, games, planning, leading sessions, making it fun, being a role model

Zoom lessons during lockdown

Supporting end of term fun on course events at BMGC for Swindon Premier Golf Academy

In August 2020 the lady captain at BMGC asked Niamh to plan an event for the girls as part of her ladies captain’s day.  Niamh set up a fun foursomes event on the 9 hole course for the girls and persuaded some of the other older girls to get involved & play in small teams with the younger girls.  It really helped the younger girls not only play with, but also get to know the older girls and the ladies.

In May 2020 Niamh and her coach, Lee, took part in the World’s Biggest Golf lesson online, Niamh set up and planned for the session which was a huge success.

Niamh has attended numerous girls holiday camps pre and post lockdown assisting her coach on practice facilities and also out on the course with the girls and making sure they had a lot of fun.

Niamh is an Ambassador with England Golf & the Golf Foundation and, as part of this, has taken part in various initiatives this year working with the team.  She has also presented to the golf volunteer board on what it is like to volunteer in golf and how it has helped her in all aspects of her life.

In December 2020 Niamh was asked by the incoming Lady Captain to sit on the Ladies Committee meetings at BMGC to be the voice of young people in golf on the committee.

Niamh has been involved in various Get into Golf initiatives at her club and in April 2021 assisted in one where 36 juniors attended that had never played golf before and 19 have started group coaching sessions.

Niamh has continued to support the girls and continue her volunteering to help grow the game and show young people how golf has changed her life during what has been a very challenging year for everyone with the effects of COVID but she has also faced a personal challenge of her own on top of this.  

Following periods of a lot of back pain she was diagnosed with Scoliosis in January 2020.  This means that Niamh has a 34 degree curve in her spine and can very often be in a lot of pain and discomfort.  This also meant she faced a lot of uncertainty about what the future for her and her golf would hold.  Following numerous X Rays, MRIs and consults, in July she was fitted for a Boston Spinal Brace to try and stop her curve progressing while she is still growing.  Niamh has to wear the hard plastic  brace for a minimum of 18 hours a day and it restricts her movement significantly.  No one would have blamed her for stepping back or taking it easy, but she didn’t.  Golf and helping young people to find a love for it meant too much to her to stop.  

Quote from Lee Hayward, Niamh’s Coach

“When it comes to her volunteer work at the Academy, Niamh is truly amazing. She has a real connection with the girls in the group and they all look at her as a true role model. Her help is so valuable to help the girls have lots of fun whilst learning new skills. Niamh is very approachable, and the girls can always trust she does and says the right things. As her coach of many years now I am truly proud of how she is growing in confidence with her volunteer work and how that transfers into her whole approach to golf. If anyone deserves recognition it certainly is Niamh.”

We all wish Niamh the very best of luck at the England Golf Awards 2021.

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