Nominations open for Golf Foundation Awards

PGA Professionals are being encouraged to put their names forward as candidates to win a prestigious Golf Foundation Presidents’ Award.

The Golf Foundation is a national charity that helps young people enjoy the playing and personal benefits of golf through its HSBC Golf Roots programme in schools, golf clubs and communities.

Nine awards will presented during the annual ceremony at Wentworth Club on the eve of the BMW PGA Championships in May and will celebrate some of the real heroes of grass roots junior golf, as well as the projects that encourage more young people to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport.

The most prestigious honour is the Sir Henry Cotton Award, which is presented for outstanding service in the development of young golfers over a sustained period of time.

Brendon Pyle, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Our Presidents’ Awards represent a priceless opportunity for this charity and our partners to recognise and celebrate the outstanding commitment and passion that our award winners show in helping young people to find a good start in golf so that they may enjoy the game long into adulthood.”

Five PGA Professionals were honoured last year, including Peter Ball who had cause for a double celebration.

ABOVE - Peter Ball pictured with PGA Captain John Heggarty.

Having just been made a PGA Master Professional, Ball received the Burroughs Award for his work with the Sheffield Inclusive Golf Project.

Hatchford Brook Golf Club’s Aaron Lansberry won the Mackenzie Award and the Sinclair Award went to Mark Edgar for transforming the junior section at Horton Park Golf Club.

Huw Williams and Steve Stiller completed the quintet of PGA winners, claiming the Bonallack and Critchley Awards respectively for the parts they played in growing the game at Pyle and Kenfig and Farleigh Golf Clubs.

In addition to PGA pros, golf lovers are being urged to nominate people who happily give their time to support the charity’s national HSBC Golf Roots programme which is providing an ever-more successful player pathway from school to regular club golf.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 23rd February, 2018. For more information or to download an application form visit http://www.golf-foundation.org/about-us/presidents-awards/