HowDidiDo, Europe’s largest golfing community, has partnered with the On Course Foundation, the charity which helps rehabilitate wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through golf, and has pledged to raise a minimum £5,000 this year.
The On Course Foundation was launched in 2010, after founder John Simpson – who formerly managed some of golf’s biggest names – visited the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, at Headley Court, Surrey, and was moved by what he witnessed. Although he has only one good leg, following childhood polio, Simpson has played golf to a high standard since the age of 14 and maintains a successful career in the golf industry.
And the Foundation he launched now exists to train wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in a sport that they can play competitively and enjoy, that will assist their recovery, and can even lead to a new career. It introduces them to the opportunities available at various introductory golf events staged close to the military’s Personnel Recovery Units and encourages them to attend the Foundation’s golf skills and employment events.
HowDidiDo has pledged to support and promote such events and will also raise funds through its ‘community’ donations.
Barry Dyett, managing director of HowDidiDo Media, explained: “We are very pleased to be able to support such a worthwhile and inspirational charity and hope this is just the beginning of a long-term relationship.”
On Course Foundation’s managing director, Steve Holt, added: “With many of our beneficiaries lacking self-belief, it’s our aim to help them realise their potential within the golf industry, and set them on a fulfilling career path. HowDidiDo is a great partner for us, a perfect fit to help us spread awareness of our cause. We’re absolutely delighted to have them on board, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”
Surrey-based On Course Foundation’s golf skills and employment events allow wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans to explore how golf can help them on the road to recovery, and how the industry can provide employment. Members receive not only comprehensive golf tuition from the Foundation’s training professionals, but career advice and guidance from industry figures in golf course management, greenkeeping and marketing, among others.
Its main aim is to offer work experience placements in the golf industry to its members, leading to employment that suits their skills and knowledge, and helping them pursue a meaningful career.
Patrons of the charity include keen golfer Prince Andrew, who saw active service during the Falklands conflict, and, in the USA, seven-time Major winner Arnold Palmer.
HowDidiDo is Europe’s largest golfing community, holding in excess of 21 million rounds of golf along with the handicaps, results and scores of more than 1,300,000 UK golf club members, with more than 460,000 golfers currently using the website.
Around 2,000 golf clubs currently use the HowDidiDo system, allowing members to analyse their game and compare performance with other players – at their own club or across the entire HowDidiDo network. It is also used for official CONGU handicapping and competition results.
HowDidiDo, in association with the Daily Telegraph, is also currently engaged in a widespread campaign with the BOSS Watches H1 Club to reward all its registered golfers with a luxury timepiece should they record a hole-in-one during an official club competition.
It also powers the Morocco Matchplay, a UK singles and pairs competition culminating in a grand final in the North African country, in February.
HowDidiDo www.howdidido.com
On Course Foundation www.oncourseFoundation.com
Read more Company Announcements and latest list of Most-read stories