Lilleshall’s dynamic duo honoured for transforming lives through golf

Mark and Lisa Shervill, an in-demand professional duo, have spent years dismantling the barriers to the fairway, proving that the game is not merely a sport for the few, but a life-changing tool for the many.

Their approach is rooted in an original coaching pathway defined by four core pillars: Mind, Body, Play, and Motion. This philosophy moves away from rigid, one-size-fits-all instruction, offering instead a flexible framework that caters to participants aged six to 92. By fostering a supportive and confidence-building environment, the Shervills have ensured that physical or age-related limitations are no longer an obstacle to enjoying the game.

Nowhere is their impact more profound than in their work with the British Legion Battle Back Centre. Recognising the therapeutic potential of the sport, the pair secured extensive sponsorship to construct a bespoke, safe, and covered coaching platform specifically for severely injured and traumatised service personnel. This initiative now supports approximately 400 participants annually, providing a vital space for rehabilitation and mental recovery.

A Community Catalyst

The Shervills’ influence extends deep into the local community through their partnership with Crossbar Alternative Learning. Each week, they mentor 10 young people, using golf as a medium to build self-esteem, improve general wellbeing, and encourage positive social behaviours. This outreach is further bolstered by a dedicated school liaison programme, which currently engages 12 children from two local schools, embedding the values of sport in the next generation.

The statistical success of their methods has been equally remarkable at the club level. Their Women into Golf programme has introduced 187 women to the sport, with an impressive 135 progressing to full club membership. Similarly, their junior beginner pathway has nurtured 215 young players, a move that has not only produced 10 county players and five US college scholarship students but has also brought 47 parents and 45 new adult members into the club's fold.

A National Honour

What was once viewed by some as an unconventional outreach model is now regarded as a national blueprint for meaningful, inclusive growth. Through a combination of technical expertise and genuine compassion, Mark and Lisa have enriched the lives of hundreds, from veterans seeking solace to youngsters finding their feet.

Their recent national honour serves as a formal acknowledgement of what the members at Lilleshall Hall have known for years: that with the right guidance, the golf course can be one of the most inclusive spaces in British sport.

Mark said: “To win this award means the world. Getting the recognition for what we do obviously is a great honour, but it's more than the award. I mean, every day that I coach, it's a passion, it's a purpose, and it's just a great thing to be able to share with everybody that I do help coach, and everybody at the golf club who supports us through our journey.”

Lisa added: “My proudest achievement of participation is getting as many women and girls into the game as I have. It's not just me, you've got to have the right environment, you've got to have the right team behind you, but to get over 200 through joining, starting, playing, enjoying it, loving it - that's the biggest and most proudest bit for me.

“I just want to encourage more women, more girls into golf and keep them playing golf and show them how wonderful a game it is.

“The trophy is definitely coming back to Lilleshall. We are going to celebrate with all the members of the golf club. This is as much theirs as it is ours. Without their support of the club, we can't do what we do. All the people that we coach, without their support, we can't do what we do and this is as much for them as it is for us.”