The Golf Foundation has appointed sports development expert Steven Day as its new Chair, replacing Stephen Lewis who steps down after almost eight years leading the charity.
The Golf Foundation’s mission is to change lives through golf and Steven will work closely with Golf Foundation President Nick Dougherty and the wider team as they continue to work with schools, communities and golf clubs across the UK, helping introduce golf to young people from all backgrounds, improving children’s mental wellbeing through the groundbreaking ‘Unleash Your Drive’ initiative, and creating more golfers.
The recently launched Unleash Your Drive programme focuses on promoting the confidence, resilience and wellbeing of young people through golf learning, and is currently at the heart of a national school focus with the support of the charity’s core funders The R&A, the Professional Golfers’ Association (The PGA), Sport England and The Ryder Cup.
Day brings over 20 years’ experience in the sport sector across a range of roles including as Head of Grassroots Development at The FA, CEO of Fulham FC Foundation, and Chair of Active Surrey. In 2020, Steven founded his own sports consultancy business that focuses on the positive impact of sport in communities and has worked with a range of clients including UEFA, Sport England, Welsh FA, the RFU, Cerebral Palsy Sport and the Newcastle United Foundation.
“I am honoured to take on this role,” he said. “I’ve spent most of my career helping young people to develop through sport and physical activity and I hope my experience can add to the clear passion of the Golf Foundation team. I can’t wait to start supporting them in all our great initiatives and I am particularly excited to see how our Unleash Your Drive programme in schools develops across 2024, something I believe will be very valuable for young people, families and schools at this time.”
Brendon Pyle, CEO of the Golf Foundation, said: “Our team warmly welcomes Steven as our new Chair. We held a very thorough and open recruitment process for the role. Steven stood out, not just for his considerable development experience, but for his clear understanding of what we are looking to achieve as a charity, to make a real difference in the lives of the youngsters we connect with. His knowledge of charity governance alongside his dynamic and imaginative thinking, enhanced by his broad network across sport, make Steven a tremendous fit for the Golf Foundation.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Lewis departs from the Board after playing a major role in the 70-year history of the charity that began life in 1952, and Brendon added his thanks for all his support.
“Stephen demonstrated his considerable commercial acumen and experience in successfully guiding us through Covid,” said Pyle. “The Foundation’s golf programmes have developed strongly in the last seven years, while Stephen has helped create and maintain highly positive relationships inside and outside the sport.
“He has made great strides in the golf world but he never forgot the joy of what it means to play golf as a youngster, and we have been privileged that he brought this love of the game, fairness and respect for all young golfers to our mission at the Golf Foundation. Stephen’s sense of humour, willingness to give freely of his time and astute guidance has helped to put the Foundation in such a strong position today.”