The Golf Foundation has welcomed Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The Professional Golfers’ Association, as a new member of the charity’s Board of Trustees.
Maxfield first swung a club as a two-year-old, played golf for England as a schoolboy, and now brings years of golf and business experience to the Board of this leading child-centred charity. The Golf Foundation is completing a new five-year growth strategy and Robert has already been able to lend his expertise in these current discussions.
The Golf Foundation was founded by three-time Open Champion and PGA Professional Sir Henry Cotton and friends in 1952. Today, PGA Professionals are at the heart of its successful and inclusive initiatives for young people in schools, communities and golf clubs, programmes that encourage youngsters to learn and thrive through their experiences in the game.
PGA Members receive support from the Golf Foundation and its national network to grow junior participation, including being the first contact point for thousands of youngsters in schools, welcoming young people into club coaching, while helping them develop with confidence through club team initiatives like GolfSixes League.
The expert development team at the Golf Foundation regularly consults with PGA Professionals to create best practice for the junior game in co-ordination with the Home Nations and The R&A. To further develop knowledge in this area, the Foundation recently conducted an extensive survey of PGA Members to discover the level of support they need from the charity going forwards.
Chairman of the Golf Foundation, Stephen Lewis, said: “Given the close relationship the Golf Foundation enjoys with The PGA it is the right decision to welcome their Chief Executive to our Board of Trustees. However, it is also more than that, as we are welcoming Robert Maxfield to our team, a person we respect and admire.
“Robert is passionate about the need to inspire the next generation of young players. Due to his considerable golfing pedigree and business acumen he is ideally placed to help both the Golf Foundation and The PGA to offer a healthy, dynamic and more inclusive game to many more young people now and in the future. We are delighted he has agreed to join us.”
Robert Maxfield’s early start in golf paid off and he has played off a ‘plus’ handicap for more than 30 years (currently plus-4), including his competing in the Seniors British Open in 2018, having won qualifying.
After completing a golf scholarship at Florida State University, he joined the De Vere Group in the UK and was promoted to Director of Golf at The Belfry, where he worked at three Ryder Cups and numerous European Tour events. Robert joined The PGA staff in 2006 as Executive Commercial Director, then Deputy Chief Executive in December 2015 and became Chief Executive in January 2017.
Robert Maxfield said: “It’s a genuine privilege for me to be invited to join the Board of the Golf Foundation at this progressive time. Our PGA Members are committed to reaching out to young people from all backgrounds: encouraging more children to enjoy all the benefits of golf, while ensuring they can reach their full potential in the game.
“This philosophy clearly mirrors the vision of the whole Golf Foundation team. It’s exciting to see that PGA Professionals will remain at the heart of this charity’s work ahead and I look forward to supporting my new colleagues on the Board of Trustees.”
Robert Maxfield joins a Board rich in commercial experience and a commitment to growing the game, joining key figures from the sport, its companies and organisations, including: Stephen Lewis (Chair), Nick Bragg (Deputy Chair), Sanjit Atwal, Kevin Barker, Jim Brigden, Davinder Jhamat, Stephen Proctor, Nick Sladden, Sally Stewart, Jeremy Tomlinson, and Kim Wild.
See more information on the two organisations at www.pga.info and www.golf-foundation.org
