In 2004, Sport England (who distribute Lottery money to English Sport) designated golf as one of the top 10 sports in the country and asked EGU, EWGA and PGA to produce a 'Whole Sport plan for Golf' which covered all elements of the game - amateur, professional, men, ladies and juniors. This plan was produced and submitted for funding in February 2005. As a result, Sport England awarded golf £9million for the period 2005 - 2009. This is administered by The England Golf Partnership whose members are EGU, EWGA, PGA with the support of the Golf Foundation and Sport England.

The plan itself consists of three main sections - 'Start', 'Stay' and 'Succeed'. The first two of these sections covers getting people into the game and then retaining them. 'Succeed', as its title implies, deals with the elite end of the game at county and national levels.

In order to implement the 'Whole Sport Plan' in Worcestershire & Herefordshire the WHGP was formed in November 2006 and launched in February 2007. The Development Plan was produced and submitted to EGU/ELGA for funding in July 2007, which was approved with funding received in October 2007.