A statement issued by the Golf Foundation on Friday 29th November reads as follows, “The Board of Trustees of the Golf Foundation has taken the decision to end its association with HRH The Duke of York as Patron of the charity.”
It is thought that more than 25 golf clubs and organisations still have links with the Duke, including the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, of which he is a past captain, and Open Championship venues Royal Portrush (2019) and Royal Liverpool (due to host The Open again in 2022).
Ordinary club golfers have overwhelmingly called for these organisations to revoke Prince Andrew’s patronages because of the controversy surrounding his friendship with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last Friday the Golf Foundation became the first golfing body to do so as it joined big businesses such as Barclays, British Telecom and Standard Chartered in distancing themselves from the eighth in line to the throne.
The golf community as a whole is reported to want other golf organisations to follow. Separate polls conducted through the social media platforms of www.bunkered.co.uk demonstrate the depth of feeling among grassroots players. The magazine asked the question: do you think the remaining 26 golf organisations with links to the Duke of York should revoke his patronage?
On Facebook, 96% of respondents said yes as compared with just 4% who said no.
On Twitter, 93% of respondents said yes and 7% no.
The Golf Foundation http://www.golf-foundation.org