Glynneath Golf Club was established in 1931 and is situated in the heart of Waterfall Country, an area of outstanding beauty, which attracts thousands all year round. With the golf industry, like many others, recovering from COVID 19 lockdown restrictions, the voluntary committee worked tirelessly with the support of Golf Wales and Wales Cooperative to develop a three-year plan to develop golf tourism to the area, whilst also attracting new members to their men’s, women’s and junior sections – ensuring Glynneath Golf Club is a busy social venue for all ages to meet.
To help achieve their vision, they recognised they needed expert support on the ground and approached Pen y Cymoedd to support their plans to build on their existing team – employing a Director of Golf and Golf Support Officer for three years, to help drive their vision forward. Pen y Cymoedd were thrilled to be able to support Glynneath Golf Club with grant funding of £110,000 to support their three-year plans, as well as providing a junior bursary each year to help remove any financial barriers for our younger members of our communities to enjoy the sport too.
Pen y Cymoedd are passionate about supporting businesses and community groups with costs of new employees, specifically to help realise longer term, sustainable plans and are excited for the Director of Golf and Support Officer to start to put their exciting plans into action.
“We have been so impressed with the committee of Glynneath Golf Club accessing all the wonderful support from Wales Cooperative and Golf Wales, which has helped them put their future vision for the club into action. Supporting the club with staff costs for three years, will see not only more on offer for tourists to the area, but takes away financial barriers for their younger players, really making the support accessible for everyone!” Michelle Noble Enterprise Support Officer PyC
“Glynneath Golf Club has been a part of the Glynneath and Surrounding Community for many decades. Unfortunately, over the last 10 years or so, for whatever reason, the membership and general interest in golf dramatically declined, and the golf course and its wonderful facilities became underused. We looked at options to reverse this trend and we understood that to become successful, we needed full time professionals to market our facilities and to head up the community interest.
This is when we approached the fund with our initial concept of employing a Director of Golf and a Golf Supporting Officer. Kate and Michelle were extremely helpful and receptive of our ideas and held our hand throughout each stage, including the application process. As a result, we now have our two professional employees in post, and we are eternally grateful for all the help and support given to us by the fund and in particular Kate and Michelle. Hopefully Glynneath Golf Club will now prosper and become a forum for the local community, whether in a sporting sense or otherwise. On behalf of all the members and staff at Glynneath Golf Club, thank you all at PyC, and we are extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity” – Colin J Owen, Acting Secretary, Glynneath Golf Club