SAFEGOLF SAFEGUARDING & COACHING POLICY

Club: Hunley Golf Club
Policy Owner: Hunley Golf Club
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: September 2026
Review Date: September 2027

1. PURPOSE

Hunley Golf Club is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and positive environment for everyone participating in, working at or visiting the Club.

The Club recognises that safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone involved in golf and is committed to meeting the safeguarding standards expected by England Golf and SafeGolf.

This policy applies particularly to activities involving:

Children and young people;
Junior members;
Junior coaching and the Junior Academy;
Adults at risk;
Golf coaching;
Volunteers and Club personnel;
Competitions, events and organised activities.

SafeGolf is a partnership of golf organisations, including England Golf and The PGA, established to promote a safe and positive environment throughout golf. Its safeguarding remit includes children, young people and adults at risk.

2. CLUB COMMITMENT

Hunley Golf Club will:

Put the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk first.
Provide a safe and positive environment for participation in golf.
Ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for junior golf and coaching.
Ensure relevant coaches and Club personnel meet the appropriate SafeGolf requirements.
Maintain an up-to-date Club Personnel Register.
Maintain appropriate records of DBS checks and safeguarding training.
Ensure safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
Ensure concerns are reported to the appropriate person or organisation.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality and share information on a need-to-know basis.
Review this policy regularly against current England Golf and SafeGolf requirements.

England Golf states that everyone has a responsibility to protect and safeguard children and adults at risk and that affiliated clubs in England undergo SafeGolf accreditation to demonstrate that they meet expected safeguarding standards.

3. SCOPE OF THIS POLICY

This policy applies to all relevant individuals involved with Hunley Golf Club, including:

Golf Professionals;
Golf coaches;
Golf Manager;
Employees;
Volunteers;
Junior organisers;
Committee members/directors;
Members involved in junior activities;
Competition organisers;
Contractors and other individuals acting on behalf of the Club.

Everyone involved with the Club is expected to behave appropriately and contribute towards a safe golfing environment.

4. SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITY

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

A person does not need to be a safeguarding expert to report a concern.

If an individual:

sees something concerning;
is told something concerning;
suspects abuse or neglect;
believes a child or adult at risk may be unsafe; or
has concerns about the behaviour of a coach, volunteer, member or other individual,

they should report the concern through the appropriate safeguarding route.

Individuals should not investigate concerns themselves.

5. JUNIOR GOLF AND COACHING

Hunley Golf Club provides opportunities for children and young people to participate in golf through activities including junior coaching, Junior Academy sessions, competitions and other Club activities.

The Club will ensure that junior activities are delivered in accordance with applicable England Golf, SafeGolf and PGA safeguarding requirements.

Coaches and other personnel working with juniors should:

maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
treat every child with dignity and respect;
use appropriate language and behaviour;
avoid unnecessary physical contact;
avoid being alone with a child wherever reasonably practicable;
communicate appropriately with children and parents/guardians;
use appropriate Club-approved communication methods;
report safeguarding concerns;
follow the Club’s safeguarding procedures;
maintain appropriate records where required.

6. COACHING PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Hunley Golf Club will ensure that coaches undertaking coaching activities with children meet the relevant safeguarding requirements for their role.

For PGA Professionals, the current SafeGolf minimum standards for coaching children require:

an Enhanced Criminal Records Check within the previous three years; and
Safeguarding Training within the previous three years.

Coaches meeting these standards are designated SafeGolf Accredited Coaches through the PGA and are included on the PGA’s register of trained coaches.

Hunley Golf Club will maintain records of the relevant status of its coaching personnel and will monitor renewal dates.

The Club will not knowingly permit an individual who does not meet the applicable requirements to undertake coaching duties with children where those requirements apply.

7. CLUB PERSONNEL REGISTER

Hunley Golf Club will maintain a SafeGolf Club Personnel Register.

The register will include, where applicable:

Name;
Role;
DBS status;
DBS/check date;
Safeguarding training status;
Safeguarding training date;
Renewal/review date;
Relevant notes.

Current Club personnel include:

Johnny Norton

Role: Golf Manager / PGA Professional

Harrison Brown

Role: Golf Professional

The Club Personnel Register will be reviewed regularly and updated when personnel join or leave the Club or when DBS checks, safeguarding training or other relevant requirements are renewed.

8. DBS / CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS

Where a DBS check is required for a particular role, Hunley Golf Club will ensure that the appropriate level of check is undertaken.

For PGA Professionals coaching children, the SafeGolf minimum standard is an Enhanced Criminal Records Check within the last three years.

The Club will maintain appropriate evidence of the status of checks while respecting applicable data protection requirements.

The Club will not retain unnecessary personal information.

9. SAFEGUARDING TRAINING

Relevant Club personnel will undertake safeguarding training appropriate to their role.

For PGA Professionals coaching children, the SafeGolf minimum standard is safeguarding training within the previous three years.

The Club will maintain a record of:

Training completed;
Date completed;
Relevant training provider;
Renewal/review date.

The Club will monitor expiry dates to ensure relevant personnel remain compliant.

10. PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

All coaches, employees and volunteers must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children and adults at risk.

They must not:

engage in inappropriate physical contact;
use sexualised, threatening or abusive language;
engage in inappropriate relationships with junior participants;
communicate inappropriately with juniors through personal social media;
arrange inappropriate private meetings;
give inappropriate gifts or favours;
behave in a manner that could reasonably be considered intimidating, discriminatory or inappropriate.

Coaches should maintain a clear distinction between their professional coaching role and personal relationships.

11. COMMUNICATION WITH JUNIORS

Communication with junior golfers should be open, appropriate and proportionate.

Where possible:

parents/guardians should be included in communications;
Club-approved communication channels should be used;
personal messaging should be avoided unless necessary and appropriate;
communication should relate directly to golf, coaching or Club activities;
communications should remain professional.

England Golf provides specific guidance concerning online interaction and communication with children and young people.

12. PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Hunley Golf Club may photograph or record activities for legitimate Club purposes, including promotion of junior golf.

The Club will take appropriate steps to ensure:

relevant consent is obtained;
photographs and videos are used appropriately;
children are not unnecessarily identified;
images are stored and used responsibly;
inappropriate use of images is reported.

Any concern regarding photography, video or social media involving a junior should be reported.

13. BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION

Hunley Golf Club does not tolerate:

bullying;
harassment;
discrimination;
intimidation;
abuse;
threatening behaviour;
victimisation.

This applies to conduct:

on the golf course;
in the clubhouse;
during coaching;
during competitions;
online;
on social media;
during Club-organised activities.

All concerns will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.

14. ADULTS AT RISK

Hunley Golf Club recognises that safeguarding responsibilities extend beyond children and young people.

Adults may be at increased risk of abuse or neglect because of circumstances including disability, illness, age, dependency or other factors.

Potential concerns may include:

physical abuse;
emotional abuse;
sexual abuse;
financial abuse;
neglect;
discriminatory abuse;
coercion or exploitation.

The same principle applies: if something does not feel right, it should be reported.

SafeGolf’s safeguarding remit specifically includes adults at risk.

15. RESPONDING TO A CONCERN

If someone raises a safeguarding concern with a member of Club personnel, they should:

DO

listen;
remain calm;
take the concern seriously;
allow the person to explain in their own words;
reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking up;
make an accurate factual record;
report the concern promptly.

DO NOT

promise absolute confidentiality;
investigate the allegation;
ask unnecessary or leading questions;
confront the person who is the subject of the concern;
make assumptions;
attempt to decide whether abuse has occurred.

The responsibility of Club personnel is to recognise, respond and report, not investigate.

16. RECORDING A CONCERN

Where a safeguarding concern is raised, an accurate factual record should be made as soon as reasonably possible.

The record should include, where known:

Date;
Time;
Location;
Name of person raising the concern;
Name of person the concern relates to;
What was seen, heard or disclosed;
Relevant witnesses;
Action taken;
Person notified;
Any external organisation contacted.

Records should be factual and should avoid speculation or personal opinions.

17. CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SHARING

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively.

Information will be shared only where there is a legitimate safeguarding reason to do so.

The Club recognises that confidentiality does not prevent information being shared where necessary to protect a child, young person or adult at risk.

SafeGolf states that safeguarding information may be shared on a need-to-know basis and, where appropriate, with relevant clubs, County bodies and statutory agencies including Police and Children’s Social Care.

18. IMMEDIATE RISK / EMERGENCY

If an individual is in immediate danger, or there is an immediate risk of serious harm, 999 should be contacted.

Where appropriate, concerns may also be referred to:

Local Authority Children’s Social Care;
Adult Social Care;
Police;
England Golf;
SafeGolf;
The PGA;
Another appropriate statutory or sporting safeguarding organisation.

SafeGolf provides a route for concerns relating to the welfare of participants and concerns regarding the behaviour or practice of coaches, volunteers, organisers, parents or players.

19. SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

Hunley Golf Club’s designated safeguarding contact should be recorded below.

Designated Safeguarding Person:
Name: Harrison brown

Role: PGA Professional

Telephone: 01287677444

Email: [email protected]

Deputy / Alternative Contact:
Name: Johnny Norton

Role: Golf Manager

Telephone: 01287677444

Email: [email protected]

These details should be kept up to date and made available to relevant Club personnel.

20. EXTERNAL SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

Concerns may also be raised directly with SafeGolf where appropriate.

SafeGolf provides a dedicated process for sharing a concern or seeking safeguarding advice.

England Golf also identifies safeguarding as an area of responsibility for its governance team.

21. RECRUITMENT AND VOLUNTEERS

Hunley Golf Club will consider safeguarding when recruiting employees, coaches and volunteers.

Depending on the role, this may include:

appropriate references;
DBS checks;
safeguarding training;
relevant coaching qualifications;
SafeGolf/PGA accreditation;
confirmation of relevant experience and qualifications.

The Club will not knowingly appoint an individual to a role involving children where they do not meet the relevant safeguarding requirements.

22. CODE OF CONDUCT

Everyone involved with Hunley Golf Club is expected to:

treat others with respect;
behave appropriately;
follow Club rules;
respect personal boundaries;
avoid discriminatory or abusive behaviour;
raise safeguarding concerns;
cooperate with appropriate safeguarding procedures.

Failure to comply may result in action under the Club’s relevant disciplinary procedures.

23. POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

Responsibility for implementing this policy rests with the Club’s management and designated safeguarding personnel.

The Club will ensure that:

relevant personnel are aware of this policy;
the Club Personnel Register is maintained;
relevant safeguarding training is monitored;
DBS requirements are monitored;
safeguarding concerns are recorded appropriately;
policies are reviewed against current England Golf and SafeGolf requirements.

24. POLICY REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed at least annually.

It will also be reviewed following:

significant changes to England Golf safeguarding requirements;
changes to SafeGolf standards;
relevant legislative changes;
a significant safeguarding incident;
changes to the Club’s junior coaching arrangements.

Next Review: September 2027

25. CLUB APPROVAL

Approved on behalf of Hunley Golf Club

Name: Johnny Norton

Position: Golf Manager

Signature: JNorton

Date: 26/9/26

Review Date: September 2027

HUNLEY GOLF CLUB