FRINTON have become the first golf club in Essex to win the new national GolfMark award from England Golf.

GolfMark is the official seal of approval for clubs successfully working to develop their business in a number of specified ways.

These include attracting new members and encouraging existing members to play more, using practical business planning to develop the club, offering appropriate coaching and playing opportunities for all standards of golfer and ensuring all necessary safeguarding policies are in place for the junior section.

Club chairman Rob Morgan said: “Our aim is to offer members and visitors of all abilities an exceptional golfing experience and friendly welcome.

"Achieving the England Golf GolfMark shows we are a club for all age groups and it recognises the hard work and huge strides we have made to develop golf in our area.

"GolfMark gives us the disciplines to continue to improve and attract new members and golfers and the club owes a huge debt to Peter Taggart, Roy Stevenson and Colin Marsh for getting us across the line first.”

The award was presented by Essex county development officer Helen Tarttelin.

The GolfMark award was developed by England Golf and also integrates Sport England’s Clubmark award - a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.