Golfers dig deep for Golf Foundation

Generous members of Royal Eastbourne Golf Club have raised £1,150 for the Golf Foundation.

The cash boost will help the leading golf charity make the game more accessible for young people from different backgrounds and circumstances.

While Royal Eastbourne Golf Club is a traditional private members' club it also works hard to welcome new young golfers with its team of PGA Professionals, led by Alan Harrison (above left) liaising with schools in the area with support from the Golf Foundation’s regional development officer Andy Wright (above centre).

Club secretary David Lockyer, (above right), said: “There is great goodwill towards new players from our members who recognise the importance of encouraging the next generation.

“Our membership raised this money by agreeing to add a £2 donation to their annual subscription fees. This is a very simple way to support a great cause in golf.”

The support from all at Royal Eastbourne Golf Club has helped to forge a strong relationship with the Golf Foundation and it has  been one of the early adopters of the Junior Golf Passport, which apart from hel

ping children to become ready for regular play after coaching from a PGA Professional, is encouraging more family interest in the game at club level.

Wright (pictured below right) added: “Royal Eastbourne’s members should be very proud of the commitment they have shown to junior golf.

“Head PGA Professional Alan Harrison understands the importance of encouraging youngsters and families to enjoy the game.

“Laurence Collier (above left) one of Alan’s PGA Professional team, has really embraced our work in the school network and then relished the opportunity to invite schools back to the club for golf festivals and coaching, where he excels as a coach of young golfers using the new Junior Golf Passport.

“Working closely with the area’s School Games Organiser Elizabeth Price, Laurence has been able to further increase the club’s links to schools by recruiting a team of 16 students from Sussex Downs College to act as Young Leaders (volunteers) in school coaching sessions, enabling Laurence to involve greater class sizes in golf activity.”

Collier added: “Our volunteer students deserve great credit for helping us to reach so many children in school and then to stage a series of golf festivals during the summer, so a big thank you to Mark Watts, the co-ordinator at Sussex Downs College, and also to Liz Price who has been great.”

Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “At any club, such generosity and goodwill can be translated into a major act of fundraising if the membership and club secretary can agree on this simple £2 donation on top of subscriptions.

David Lockyer and team should be commended on this good communication within the club and we would be delighted to see more golf clubs follow this path and help us to increase our HSBC Golf Roots activity.”

Royal Eastbourne is an England Golf GolfMark facility. GolfMark is a national scheme that identifies and recognises junior and beginner friendly golf facilities.

To learn more about the Golf Foundation call 01992 449830 or see www.golf-foundation.org