Gareth Hughes ()

Gareth Wyn Hughes, the driving force behind the Rhondda Golf Academy, a facility supported by the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund, has been named the recipient of the BBC Cymru Wales ‘Unsung Hero’ Award 2011.

Rhondda Golf Club, which celebrated its centenary in 2010, is a small club in the Rhondda Valley built on the mountain above Penrhys and, although situated in an area of high unemployment it is a thriving and vibrant club.

Hughes, 26, has long been an outstanding Junior Organiser and coach to the under 14's, and with his father, Robert, has been the driving force in the club. In 2006 they successfully applied, with the help of Golf Development Wales, to the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund for support to build a 9 hole short course and some covered teaching bays.

It was opened in 2010 by the Minister for Heritage and has enabled the club to attract youngsters from the local schools to start playing golf. The facility offers golf opportunities to boys and girls up to the age of 18, with over 60 boys and girls now coached at the course each weekend by PGA professional, David Pocock, who joined the club during 2010.

In addition a number of primary and secondary schools participate in coaching sessions on a weekly basis.

The Unsung Hero Award recognises and rewards outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport and is now in its ninth year.

John Jermine, former Chairman of Ryder Cup Wales, said: “We are delighted that Gareth has just been awarded the BBC Wales Sports Personality "Unsung Heroes" Award. It is a marvellous example of the benefits of hosting The Ryder Cup and what can be achieved by a small group of people if they are given some support.”

His nominee called him “a true inspiration to the game of golf and everyone who knows him”. Gareth’s own motto is that “golf should be inclusive and not exclusive.”

Gareth was handed the award by BBC Wales Today presenter Claire Summers at Rhondda Golf Club in front of his family and friends.

The filming was set up in secret, so Gareth was completely unaware he was receiving the award. “It was great. I got to do my Cilla Black moment and surprise him,” says Claire.

“It’s such a community atmosphere down there, the kids are just thriving and golf in the Rhondda is alive and well,” adds Claire. “The kids really love Gareth, although they say his jokes are rubbish, but his golf is first class!

“It’s really nice to meet someone so deserving of the award and he does it all for no financial reward, because he gets such a buzz from seeing the kids develop as people as well as golfers. He truly believes that anybody in the Rhondda can achieve anything. He really is a very special young man.”

Hughes will go forward to the national BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 awards held at BBC Sport's new home at MediaCityUK in Salford on Thursday, December 22, where Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald are among the ten candidates for the main award.