The Golf Foundation’s ‘Commit to junior golf’ campaign has received further crucial support as Keith Lloyd, Secretary of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries (AGCS), has given his influential backing to the fundraising initiative.
All golf club members are being encouraged to add a voluntary £2 donation to their annual subscriptions. The Golf Foundation, a charity committed to the sporting and social development of young people through golf, launched this appeal before Christmas. It has found favour quickly, heavyweight supporters including The R&A, which has urged all British golfers to play their part and get behind the appeal, and Crown Golf, Europe’s largest golf course owner/operator, which is asking all its 20,000 members to donate £2 to the cause.
The role of golf club secretaries will now be all-important for the campaign which is raising money to bring more youngsters into our golf clubs and protect the future of the game. Keith Lloyd believes secretaries should talk to members now about the plan and, subject to approval, arrange their £2 donations through annual subscription.
Keith Lloyd said, “AGCS members care passionately about the need to encourage more youngsters into our clubs. Supporting the Golf Foundation in this new campaign is important and we are hoping many club secretaries will discuss this with their members.”
Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said, “We believe the vast majority of members will happily donate £2 for grass roots junior golf but we rely on secretaries and members to communicate with one another to make this happen. Keith’s input and advice here has been a tremendous boost to the campaign and we are delighted with the response we have received from golf clubs so far.”
Keith Lloyd has written personally to all AGCS members urging them to back the campaign and members will soon receive letters and information packs from the Golf Foundation. The AGCS magazine ‘Golf Club Management’ has also written in support of the initiative.
It is now hoped that a large number of clubs sign up in support of the campaign throughout early 2007. Giving his endorsement, Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A, said, “We totally support this simple mechanism for clubs and club members to give their backing to the Golf Foundation’s important grass-roots initiatives. For just £2 per golf club member, we can make a colossal difference to the future of our game. It’s not much to ask and I urge all golfers to play their part.”
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org