"The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing."

RAFGA Coaching Grants

Key amongst a number of benefits the RAFGA Membership Scheme (MS) has is our continued support to grass-roots golfers by the provision of cash grants towards coaching.

The controller of the RAFGA coaching funds is the Deputy Chairman of the Membership Committee, Sqn Ldr Andy Wilson, who works with Unit OICs and their committee members in helping to distribute our annual coaching grants. So how do you go about getting some of this money, and how much do you get? Simple really.

Step 1 - Organise. Get a volunteer on your committee, or Unit golf society, to organise golf coaching with a local PGA pro. You can organize as you see fit and the variety of options is enormous. Events range from one-off for selected individuals targeting specific areas of the game, right through to a series of 6 sessions working on all aspects of the game over the entire summer. The options are endless and only bounded by the enthusiasm and needs of your members.

Step 2 – Cost it. Once you have your plans in place, and have enough take up to make the sessions worthwhile, then get it fully costed. However, there are a number of areas that you should be aware of when putting together your package which cannot be funded, and these are:

Once you have sorted out the entire package, be that for one session or a number, contact Andy (initially on 0306 79 80056 or via email at 22TrgGp-FTSO2CamMOMR@mod.uk) outlining your plans, the numbers of golfers taking part and the total costs for coaching.

It should also be noted that:

• All participants MUST be RAFGA members.
• No Green Fees can be subsidised.
• No meals taken during the day can be subsidised.
• Only formal coaching can be subsidised; no subsidies are available for golf tours.

Step 3 – Funding decision. Approximately £3500 per year is available to put towards Unit coaching. Normal practice is that approximately 33% of your costs are provided as a cash grant to offset the coaching costs. A coaching course for beginners can be more generously subsidised just to entice them into the RAFGA MS! The money can be paid into the golf account on Unit or sent direct to the PGA pro, whatever suits you best.

Step 4 – Go and enjoy! Coaching is for many of us an essential way of increasing our enjoyment of the game. As frustrating as this game often is, it is that one good shot per round that keeps us coming back.
Finally, and with that in mind, if your coaching sessions are a success then just come back and ask for some more money. If you are willing to keep organising them, we can keep funding them until the money runs out. It is always on a first-come first-served basis and as the saying goes “if you don’t ask…”

As a reminder, Andy Wilson is available on 0306 79 80056 or via email at 22TrgGp-FTSO2CamMOMR@mod.uk