Three new officers join England Golf

Three new officers have joined the drive to grow the game of golf in England and encourage more people to play.

Jamie Blair is the new Disability Officer for the England Golf Partnership (EGP), while Sean Hammill and Ashley Rump join the team of England Golf Regional Development Officers.

They will support the delivery of the EGP's 2013-17 Whole Sport Plan for golf.

Its goals include encouraging more people with a disability to take up golf; providing opportunities for people aged over 26 to take up the game and play more often; and increasing the number of young people aged 14-25 who play the game.

Richard Flint, the England Golf Development Manager, commented: "We're delighted to welcome Jamie, Sean and Ashley to our team and we look forward to working with them to get more people playing and staying in golf."

Jamie Blair's national role as EGP Disability Officer will involve supporting County Golf Partnerships to increase participation among people with disabilities.

He has been the National Events Co-ordinator for the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) since April 2012, supporting events, recruiting volunteers and working with a range of sport governing bodies.

Sean Hammill becomes Regional Development Officer for the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire & Staffordshire. He replaces Melanie Flude, who worked for England Golf for eight years.

He has been the County Development Officer for Staffordshire since 2011, working to deliver the County Golf Partnership's Development Plan.

Ashley Rump takes on the new post of Regional Development Officer for the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and BB&O (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire).

He has been working in grass roots sport as Cricket Development Officer for the Oxfordshire Cricket Board, since June 2011.

Their appointments mean that England Golf has returned to a team of eight Regional Development Officers, providing a high and consistent level of support for all County Golf Partnerships, counties and golf clubs.