Members of golf clubs all over Britain have played their part in raising around £80,000 for the Golf Foundation’s annual appeal for 2005. Golf clubs were asked to make donations to help fund the Golf Foundation’s important grass roots golf development work in schools, golf facilities and through local authorities all over Britain, which is making the sport more accessible for both boys and girls.
This work in 2005 included: 300,000 children being introduced to golf through the Golf Foundation’s European Tour-endorsed Tri-Golf initiative; nearly 3,000 primary schools welcoming golf into their schools; 500,000 children experiencing some form of golf through the Golf Foundation, and 45,000 children from a diverse range of backgrounds, across nine cities, being involved in community golf schemes thanks to the Daily Telegraph Marriott Golf Roots project.
Added spice for this year’s appeal was provided thanks to Club Car, which presented one of its market-leading Club Car Precedent golf cars to Ken Schofield, to mark his retirement as Executive Director of the European Tour, who in turn donated the Precedent to the Golf Foundation. The car, which would normally sell for around £4,000, was put forward as a prize, and any golf club that donated £250 or more to the Foundation was entered into a draw to win the Precedent. In all, 67 golf clubs reached this figure. With the competition and appeal having just closed, it was left to Ken Schofield himself to make the prize draw, with Epsom Golf Club in Surrey being the lucky winner.
David Bowles, secretary at Epsom Golf Club, said, “We were shocked and, of course, delighted to be informed that we had won this great prize. We are also very pleased that it has come from supporting the Golf Foundation, an organisation that is doing so much good work for junior golf. At Epsom Golf Club we will continue to support them and hope that all other clubs follow suit. Next year we are leaning towards the Foundation’s ‘£1 per member’ scheme, as this is an easy way to raise vital funds for junior golf.”
Neil Woodfin, Club Car’s sales director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, commented, “The work that the Golf Foundation carries out is essential in bringing new people into the sport and we are delighted to have been able to offer our support in this way.”
Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said, “The Golf Foundation has worked hard this year to develop golf in schools, the junior sections of golf clubs and in community projects, and the links between schools and clubs is getting stronger. Of course, all this work costs money and we are heavily indebted to the generosity of many golf clubs all over Britain in providing vital funds. We would like to thank every club member who has given money or time to junior golf, and we’d like to offer special thanks to Club Car and Ken Schofield for donating this prize which served as a great added incentive for the clubs. We are hugely grateful for this level of support.”
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org
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