A GOLF club has overcome obstacles amid the Covid pandemic to develop its site and encourage women and youngasters into the sport.

Glamorganshire Golf Club (GGC), in Penarth, is one of the oldest golf clubs in Wales – it was founded as a nine-hole course in 1890, but by 1896 had been developed into a full 18-hole course.

Although the Covid pandemic and lockdowns presented the club with challenges, Welsh Government grants enabled it to stay afloat and highlighted the importance of fitness and health – more than 100 members have joined over the past 18 months with a total of more than 880 members from all over the Vale of Glamorgan at GGC.

A £750,000 development, which began three years ago, is nearing completion with work carried out on their golf course, including commissioning sustainable Ecobunkers.

This has been carried out be ground staff, led by head groundman, Iain Grant, who worked closely with the chairman of greens Colin Toshack.

Elm trees, which were destroyed years ago due to disease, have been removed and replaced with smaller trees. Some conifer trees have been retained at the 7th and 18th holes which act as great protective screens from wayward shots.

During the development the 7th green was also completely dug up and moved 30 metres to the right, which – along with making it a formidable par – made it safer for all concerned, including walkers ar Cosmeston Lakes on the pathway running parallel to the hole.

GGC has also proposed building a gazebo lean-in structure alongside the clubhouse to offer outdoor protection when there are adverse weather conditions.

The club has a Veterans section, with more than 70 members, who regularly play in competitions along with organising days out.

There is also a Ladies section, with exclusive tee times every Tuesday up until 3pm. The club, in conjunction with Wales Golf, had offered ‘Ladies New 2 Golf’ training session, to encourage more women to get involved with golf – introducing more than 100 new women to the club over three years.

Plus, Girls Golf Cymru Coaching Clinics, run in conjunction with Wales Golf and Glamorgan Ladies Golf Union recently delivered a full day’s coaching programme to girls from numerous golf clubs around South Wales.

This year (2021) the club launched ‘Junior New 2 Golf’ coaching sessions to encourage younger people to get involved with golf. Plus, in school holidays it hosts Kids Camps which have coached more than 120 young golfers and boosted junior membership at GCC.

Find out more about the club at glamorganshiregolfclub.co.uk