Sandiway Golf Club has been placed above many more famous golf courses in Britain to gain the coveted accolade of the “Most Welcoming Golf Club of the Year UK 2007”.

The club won the award in the annual competition organised by the outstanding trade magazine “Clubhouse”.  A trophy and the title were presented to the Sandiway Captain, Mr Brian Baister, at a special dinner and prize giving ceremony at The Warwickshire Golf Club.

It is the first time in the history of the awards that a northwest club has taken the top honour.  The Club’s Secretary/Manager, Mr Keith Melia explained: “The award came out of the blue.  The first we knew about it was when we were contacted by the Magazine and asked if our Captain could be present at the prize giving ceremony as we had received a nomination”.  The magazine stages the awards night annually and there are a number of award categories.  Nominations are submitted to the magazine, which are then followed up by the magazine’s representatives, posing as potential customers asking a number of questions concerning the club, its facilities, and generally how visitors and guests are treated.

Having passed the first “test” the club was contacted again several weeks later by one of the magazines inspectors who confronted the club with a more comprehensive list of queries. It was some time later that the magazine revealed that they had put the club under scrutiny without revealing their true purpose or identity.  Keith Melia added “It is a great honour for the club and a huge compliment to our staff who dealt with both of the enquiries in a friendly and professional way”.

The picture of Manager, Keith Melia, holding the award and Clubhouse staff is published by courtesy of the Northwich Guardian