Surrey’s Alex MacGregor was crowned the England Golf Participation & Development Coach of the Year for 2024 at Tuesday’s England Golf Centenary Dinner & Awards at The Midland Manchester Hotel.
Alex is dedicated to creating golf opportunities to everyone in the community of South London, running activities in 2023, which included engaging with over 20 schools and community groups in delivering to hundreds of children.
He hosted the Croydon Borough Primary Golf Festival for 90 children and trained 16 young leaders in the process, collaborating with Deshi Golf to give young people from an Asian background their first golf experience. He has also trained staff as Activators to support and host their first on-course experiences.
Alex has taken golf to the Canary Wharf Football Academy Community session, building a strong relationship with the local Muslim Centre and delivering golf to family and junior groups.
After winning the award, he said: “It’s a great feeling and spurs you on to achieve more. There are so many talented coaches and people trying to grow the game and it’s nice to be recognised on such a special night on the 100th year of England Golf.
“There are so many talented people that want to grow the game through different avenues and to be recognised is a wonderful feeling in that you’re doing your bit to spread the love of golf.
“The most rewarding part has been people staying for sessions and coming back week on week, such as the ladies, juniors and seniors. If they come back week after week then we’ve created a community that want to come and play a sport they can socialise in, so that’s a rewarding feeling. I just want to spread the word that golf is a great game and to try and change some of the stereotypes that have been attached to it.
"As long as we get clubs in people’s hands then people will realise the benefits of the game and what a great game it is. It’s all about getting more people playing golf in whatever format they feel comfortable in and then they’ll stay for life in the sport."
Over 65 per cent of the people Alex coached in 2023 were from ethnic minority backgrounds and 60 per cent were female, which has had an extraordinary impact on the complexion of Addington Court Golf Club. He has developed a pathway into golf at the club that is as much about creating a relaxed, social environment as it is about delivering engaging group activities.
Alex delivers year-round sessions to around 100 women, 120 juniors and 40 seniors, including golfers with dementia and long covid, as well as putting on social events for golfers.