Staff WriterThe Golf Performance Awards rolled into Eastwood Hall in Nottinghamshire with all the subtlety of a well-struck stinger, celebrating the coaches, volunteers and regions who’ve quietly built the backbone of English amateur golf. The annual England Golf Performance Conference & Awards drew a packed house on 4 December, offering recognition, reflection, and a timely reminder of what real grassroots excellence looks like.
A 100-strong crowd settled in for a talk from Olympic icon and England Golf Ambassador Dame Denise Lewis, whose presence alone felt like a motivational slap on the back. Then came the moment everyone had gathered for: the unveiling of the five standout winners of this year’s Golf Performance Awards.
East Region Named Boys’ Region of the Year
The East Region walked away with Boys’ Region of the Year for 2024/25 after a season that looked suspiciously like domination. Their year was a barrage of steady scoring, fearless travel, and enough top finishes to make rival regions twitch.
Toby Peters and Ben Sessions led the charge internationally—Peters teeing it up for England at both the European Team Championships and Home Internationals, while Sessions did the same and threw in a starring turn at the Spanish Boys’ Championship for good measure. Their form set the tone for a squad that didn’t just perform—it swarmed.
In the England Golf Boys’ Order of Merit, Peters finished 1st, Sessions 3rd, while teammates locked down 9th, 16th and 19th. Five players inside the national top 20 is no small statement. That’s a declaration of depth.
Victories piled up: McEvoy Trophy, South of England Boys, South East Junior, two Faldo Series wins. Podiums stacked at the Spanish Boys, Carris Trophy, England U18s, West of England U18s, North of England U16s, and another McEvoy. Add a haul of top-10s—Berkhamsted, Lagonda, Berkshire, English Amateur, Tillman, Fairhaven—and you’ve got a region playing like its golf bags contain rocket launchers.
The strength wasn’t concentrated in one prodigy but spread across the squad. Under the guidance of Chris Jenkins, Paul Prebble, and Will Wayland, the East also embraced tools like Upgame—data-driven training now being part of their everyday language. Smarter prep, sharper execution, better outcomes. It showed.
West Midlands Crowned Girls’ Region of the Year
The West Midlands weren’t there to make up numbers. They claimed Girls’ Region of the Year with the kind of season that shows what happens when strong coaching meets young talent hungry for opportunity.
Handicaps dropped across the board, results surged, and national recognition followed. Serafima Taylor took home the English Girls’ U16 crown, while rising star Arianna Virik earned two England U16 call-ups—further proof the region is carving out a reputation for developing players capable of performing well beyond county borders.
Jason Davies’ coaching steered the charge, supported by Ashley Jones’ encouragement and Ben Langdown’s strength and conditioning know-how. Together, they’ve fostered a culture where players aren’t just improving—they’re thriving.
Rob Watts: Coach of the Year
If there was ever a season that justified a trophy, Rob Watts delivered it. Named 2025 Coach of the Year, Watts’ fingerprints have been all over elite performances at home and abroad.
His players have won everywhere—from UK and European amateur events to U.S. college circuits, the Clutch Tour, the Hotel Planner Tour, the Champions Tour, LET titles and even the Asian Tour. Under his mentorship, athletes have teed it up in the sport’s biggest arenas: The Open, the Evian Championship, the US Open, the PGA Championship. Few coaches can say that.
Watts also guided England teams to four international victories in 2025: the Octagonal at Costa Ballena, European Nations Cup at Sotogrande, Spain vs England at La Galiana, and the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa. He added bronze medals at the European Team Championships in Killarney and the World Amateur Team Championship (Eisenhower Trophy) in Tanah Merah—rounding off a year that reads like a career highlight reel.
Volunteer of the Year: Sue Ashworth
Some contributions can’t be measured by scorecards. That’s where Sue Ashworth comes in.
England Golf honoured Sue for her years of quiet graft and unshakeable commitment at club, county, regional and national level. Her work has strengthened pathways, supported players across age groups, and kept the beating heart of the game pumping strong.
A long-serving Regional Manager and tireless champion of junior golf, she stepped in last-minute to lead Buckinghamshire at the Women’s County Finals, and this year alone acted as Welfare Officer for the England U16s against Scotland, the European Women’s Team, and the international team in Spain.
Her ability to offer guidance, empathy and stability in difficult moments has earned her deep respect. Sue represents everything the game depends on—dedication without fanfare, and heart without limits.
Tony Moran Receives Annual Award for Excellence in Coaching
Tony Moran’s service to English golf spans nearly a decade and a half, and the Annual Award for Excellence in Coaching recognises that legacy in full.
His journey began in 2010 as Assistant Regional Coaching Manager for the East. Then came leadership roles across both Boys’ and Girls’ Regional Squads before he took charge of the England A Squad for six successful years. When the Men’s National Squad evolved to reflect more U.S.-based collegiate players, Moran remained central to the programme—continuing as an independent selector and throwing himself into team management whenever needed.
This year marks his intention to step down from the selector role, closing one of the most loyal, consistent and quietly influential careers within the England Golf Performance Programme. His legacy is written in the successes of countless players and the stability he’s given the pathway.
Celebrating the Foundations of the Future
The 2024/25 Golf Performance Awards showcased more than trophies and applause—they highlighted the people and regions where English golf’s future is being shaped long before players hit the professional stage.
From volunteers to veteran coaches to surging junior squads, this year’s winners prove the game’s growth is built on hard graft, smart coaching, and a willingness to evolve without abandoning the values that have long defined amateur golf.
If the next generation keeps following the example set by these winners, English golf’s future will stay in very good hands.
