The trustees of the British Golf Industry Association’s ‘Grow Golf’ initiative presented a cheque for £30,000 to the Golf Foundation on Wednesday, 21st May during the build-up to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The Grow Golf grant will go towards the Foundation’s ‘Golf Roots’ inner-city project in 2008 and thanks to this grant and funding from other supporters Golf Roots is more than double the size of last year’s programme, featuring 16 cities and urban areas across England and Wales. Children from a variety of backgrounds and abilities will enjoy a first experience of golf through Golf Roots this summer.
Golf will be played in schools and public community events by youngsters aged 5-16. Organised golf activity will take place at many golf clubs and driving ranges. The Golf Roots project is sustainable, aiming to provide opportunities for youngsters to continue playing golf into the future.
Brendon Pyle, development manager for the Golf Foundation, said, “We are very grateful to the partners and trustees of Grow Golf for their significant contribution here at Wentworth today. Golf Roots is about letting inner-city youngsters try golf for themselves and leaving a positive sporting legacy in these areas. It’s an exciting thought that one day in the future a Golf Roots 2008 youngster, who may otherwise not have played golf, might be competing at Wentworth during a European Tour event.”
The current Grow Golf partners are Acushnet Europe, Callaway Golf, PING Europe, Sunderland of Scotland and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, who all pay an annual levy based on their UK turnover into the Grow Golf fund. The trustees of Grow Golf, who include industry stalwarts Graham Guy and Warren Sunderland, are actively seeking additional partners to expand this ambitious scheme aimed at stimulating golf participation across all age groups, geographic regions and social backgrounds within the UK.
David Wells, chairman of the BGIA, said, “We are delighted that Grow Golf has been able to contribute to Golf Roots and will help to welcome many more youngsters into the game. It is vital for the golf industry to encourage growth in this way to protect the future of the sport and we want BGIA members to embrace the aims of Grow Golf as we move forwards.”
Golf Roots is supported by Radio and TV presenter DJ Spoony, the National Sports Foundation, the European Tour, Grow Golf and the England Golf Partnership.
For more details about Grow Golf and the BGIA see www.bgia.org.uk or call 02476 417141.
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org