Staff WriterNottinghamshire’s own Maureen Clarke has added the Gerald Micklem Award to a trophy cabinet that’s already bursting at the seams, and it’s no surprise why.
The Gerald Micklem Award pays tribute to those unsung heroes whose tireless devotion has quietly fuelled amateur golf across England—and Clarke has been leading the charge for more than half a century.
England Golf’s flagship honour—named for former English Amateur champion and Walker Cup star Gerald Micklem—was first introduced in 1990 to shine a light on individuals whose behind-the-scenes efforts keep clubhouses buzzing and scorecards full.
This year’s ceremony took place at the England Golf AGM at Woodhall Spa Golf Club on Wednesday, 23 April, where Clarke was on hand to accept her accolade.
“It’s an absolute privilege to win this award. I have had a wonderful time visiting many lovely golf courses, meeting lovely people, and having fun.
“I could not have achieved this if it had not been for the terrific support I have received from my husband Michael, my family, friends, county and golf clubs.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have received so much pleasure from doing something I have loved.”
From Handicap Newcomer to County Lifeline
Clarke’s golf odyssey began in 1968, the year her daughters first toddled off to school.
What started as a pastime quickly became an obsession—her handicap tumbled to 12 within a year, then into single digits by the 1970s as she earned her spot in Nottinghamshire’s Ladies’ First and Second teams.
By the early 1980s, her knack for organisation landed her the role of Nottinghamshire County Ladies’ Junior Organiser, where she spent five years crafting training sessions and local competitions.
Invitations soon followed to coordinate Midlands Junior events and serve as ELGA Junior Area Manager for the Midland Division.
In 1998, she took her passion county-wide, representing Nottinghamshire on the Midlands Divisional Committee.
Together with Les Pepper of Lincolnshire, Clarke launched the Midlands Divisional Champion of Champions for Junior champions—a boys-and-girls showdown that ran for a decade before the Midland Golf Union picked it up.
At the same time, she and her fellow area managers gifted a scratch-match trophy that still bears her name.
The Rules Guru
If you thought Clarke’s impact stopped at junior golf, think again. After six years on the ELGA Junior Committee organising transport and accommodation for the English Girls’ Championship, she moved to the National Training Committee before joining ELGA’s Executive and Rules & Regulations panels in 2002.
She even served on the Golf Foundation and English Schools Golf Committee, and spent a year shaping handicap policy as Nottinghamshire’s County Handicap Advisor.
In February 2003, Clarke travelled to St Andrews to tackle her TARS Rules exams—and aced them, earning Chief Referee status.
Not content to rest on her laurels, she returned four more times for Level 3, picking up two merits and three distinctions.
After The R&A’s 2012 merger with ELGA, she made history as the first woman England Golf sent to referee The Open—a moment she admitted was her “proudest moment”.
Her rule-teaching prowess has become legendary: interactive on-course demonstrations, indoor hazard simulations, and over 50 talks following the 2019 rules overhaul, each raising funds for junior golf.
She also refereed Regional and Final Qualifying for The Open for a combined 13 years—proof that her whistle is as respected as her scorecard.
Club and County Pillar
A member of Sherwood Forest Golf Club for 57 years, Clarke has worn countless hats: Match Secretary, Handicap Secretary, Lady Captain (1990) and, in 2012, Honorary Member.
She’s also served on management, green and handicap committees—plus a lengthy stint with Wollaton Park before switching to Notts Ladies’ Golf Club, Hollinwell, in 2002.
On the county scene, Clarke captained Nottinghamshire in 1998–99, earned an honorary county membership in 2009, and led as NCLGA President from 2017–19.
Her cabinet already boasts the Women in Golf Unsung Hero Award (2023) and a Golf Achiever of the Month nod from Midland Golfer.
After two decades on the Tournament Rules Panel, Clarke hung up her flagstick in 2022, refereeing her final event—the English Boys’ Championship—at her beloved Sherwood Forest course.
Now, with the Gerald Micklem Award shining brightly alongside her other honours, Maureen Clarke’s legacy is firmly etched into the fairways she’s spent a lifetime nurturing.
