Wrag Barn junior Ellie Webster has been named England Golf’s Hero Handsake winner for November after her superb work helping spread the word about golf on Instagram.
HERO’S Handshake winner Ellie Webster has built up quite a following with her regular posts about golf on social media.
However, it’s at her Wiltshire club where the 12-year-old is really gathering the most ‘likes’.
Twelve-year-old Ellie is the latest recipient of England Golf’s Hero’s Handshake award. She received it in front of family and friends at Wrag Barn Golf Club at the weekend.
Throughout 2019, Ellie has helped light up the club with her winning smile and willingness to help fellow juniors.
As a Girls Golf Rocks ambassador, Ellie was on hand to provide tips and encouragement for girls new to the game and attending two six-week coaching blocks set up by England Golf and the Golf Foundation.
Regular posts on Instagram also charted her season on and off the course – with even the bad shots and rounds discussed and simply shrugged off as “par for the course.”
Positive comments followed from all over England as well as America where her honest and witty posts struck a chord.
Already working hard on a winter programme to help her improve on her 21-handicap, Ellie has impressed everyone at her club including Verity Manners who owns Wrag Barn GC along with her husband Tim.
Verity said: “Ellie joined just over two years ago and has been a really active member of our golf community.
“She is always helpful, always enthusiastic and approachable and does everything with a smile on her face.
“Sometimes we are quick to slate social media, but the way Ellie uses it to promote positivity about golf shows that it can also be a very useful tool.
“Ellie was on hand to help out at Girls Golf Rocks. We had around 20 girls taking part for the first time and it can be a bit daunting for them.
“Ellie was there to keep them focused and hand out words of encouragement while the teaching pro carried out the sessions.
“Whether or not she makes it as a pro herself, her early experiences in golf will stand her in good stead for life.
“She has learned about interacting with fellow juniors, as well as men and ladies at the club who all play golf together during our golf week.
“She has learned the etiquette of the sport which is also useful for life skills.”
Mum Tracy, dad Michael and little brother Logan were all present to see Ellie pick up her award after she finished playing in a club Texas scramble competition.
They did well to keep the award a secret, but there’s no hiding from the fact young Ellie has her sights trained on a career in golf.
“There’s nothing else she wants to do in life – there are no other options to even consider. She wants to be a golfer,” confirmed mum. “Ellie’s played since the age of six.
“Ellie has embarked on a winter training programme including fitness work and her coach can already see that she is becoming stronger.
“Ellie is quite quiet and unassuming and her involvement at the golf club has built up her confidence.
“I supervise her social media access and together we have posted videos and photos, and the good thing is she is not afraid to talk about her bad rounds as well as the good ones.
“There’s been messages from all across the world – particularly in America.
“We went to Florida on holiday and started following various social media accounts of golf courses we visited.
“In turn they followed Ellie and the responses have come from that source.
“As a family we are so proud of her and all she is doing. This award means the world to her.”
Ali Jodiyawalla, from the Young Ambassadors programme, made the Hero’s Handshake award presentation to Ellie.
•You can follow Ellie’s Golfing Girls Journey on Instagram by clicking here.
