Emma Anderson is England's Young Ambassador of the Year

Nottinghamshire’s Emma Anderson, who inspires new players to take up the game, has been honoured as England Golf’s Young Ambassador of the Year. Emma, of Sherwood Forest Golf Club received the award, presented in association with the Golf Foundation, at a glittering ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Emma was honoured alongside Olympic champion Justin Rose, Masters champion Danny Willett and Solheim Cup player Charley Hull as well as other players and heroes from the grass roots game. The England Golf Awards shone a spotlight on great moments and achievement at all levels of English golf – and Emma’s enthusiasm to get more people playing, especially girls, was highlighted to the audience in a video.

“I was really surprised and really proud,” she said of her award. “It’s nice to be recognised, although it’s not what you do it for.” She added: “I’ve been given a lot of opportunities through golf and it’s nice to repay a little bit – plus I enjoy being around golf and seeing the faces of the kids as they are introduced to the game.”

The 20-year-old university student has been the Nottinghamshire girls’ captain and encourages new young players with a prominent role in the county’s Girls Golf Rocks project, which shows youngsters that golf is fun and friendly game. She helped at the inaugural Midland Girls’ Festival of Golf, the Nottinghamshire School Games, the Nottinghamshire City Golf project which showcased golf at major community events and she’s on the England Golf Youth Panel.

Emma was introduced to golf by her parents when she was a youngster and she loves the family aspect of the game and the friendships she’s made: “I’ve got a lot of mums at the club,” she laughed. She’s also a regular golfer, keeping playing while studying for her degree in sports marketing at Manchester University. Her current ambition is to cut her 10 handicap down into single figures – and keep her place in the Nottinghamshire ladies’ second team.