Two additional regional development officers appointed

Two additional regional development officers (RDOs) have been appointed by Golf Victoria in the Mornington Peninsula and Geelong/South West regions.

The role of these officers is to work closely with local golf facilities and District Associations in the two main areas of club development and game development.

RDOs assist with business and strategic planning, membership management, funding opportunities, volunteer strategies, rules assistance and education for community instructors as well as supporting the implementation of National and State programs.

Golf Victoria is pleased to announce that existing employee Jo Charlton has accepted a new role within the organisation as the RDO on the Mornington Peninsula.

Charlton, part-time junior golf coordinator for over three years, will continue her tenure with Golf Victoria in a full-time capacity.

In her personal golfing career, Charlton has enjoyed success as an amateur highlighted by a win at the nationally ranked 2015 South Australian Rene Erichson Salver. Charlton was a member of the Victorian Institute of Sport and has competed in the Victorian state team for five years, captaining the side for four of those years including this year’s Interstate Series which commenced today.

Also joining the RDO team in the Geelong/South-West region is Andy Clark.

Clark has an extensive management and sales background with roles in both local and multi-national manufacturing and retail companies. Sport is a lifelong passion for Clark who spent his early career as a certified skiing instructor, coaching across Canada, America and in Victoria. Clark’s passion for sport extends to golf where he is a single-figure pennant player at Torquay GC.

Charlton and Clark join current RDOs Darren Cole (Gippsland), Tony Collier (Ballarat/Wimmera) and Mark Bamford (Bendigo/North West). The RDO team will be lead by Bamford as regional development manager.

Golf Victoria CEO Simon Brookhouse is delighted to expand the team of RDOs and provide greater opportunities and assistance across Victoria.

“The regional development program has provided great outcomes for regional areas. We’re thrilled to expand our RDO base and continue to support facilities and districts to grow the game,” said Brookhouse.

The two roles were made possible by funding from the Victorian Golf Foundation (VGF).

“We’re thankful for the ongoing support provided by the VGF which has funded the appointments and continues to provide funding across a number of areas of the game,” Brookhouse added.

The RDO program was established in 2014 with the goal of appointing six of RDOs by the end of 2017. Golf Victoria will be advertising for an RDO in North-Eastern Victoria in the near future.

You can find contact details for all Golf Victoria RDOs including Charlton and Clark on the Golf Victoria website.