Dunlop Sports Group has announced the signing of a three-year deal to become the Golf Foundation’s Official Equipment Supplier and Official Sponsor of the charity’s nationwide Starter Centre Network.
The Starter Centre Network was established by the Golf Foundation to provide coaching opportunities for young beginners and currently involves around 20,000 youngsters in Starter Centre activities each year. The added funding that this association brings will help develop, expand and promote the UK-wide network of 363 Centres in order to attract more British youngsters to the sport.
“Dunlop has over 100 years of distinguished association with the game of golf, and our mission has always been to develop golf equipment for players at all levels of the game. We also recognise the need for investment at grass roots level – to balance money that is already invested at Tour level,” said Steve Yates, marketing controller for Dunlop Golf. “We intend to work hard to align Dunlop with the Golf Foundation and hope to help attract younger, committed players to the sport and the brand.”
James Handford, marketing manager for the Golf Foundation said: “Being associated with Dunlop is a fantastic opportunity for us to increase the reach of our Starter Centre Programme. A considerable part of Dunlop’s investment will go towards establishing dozens of new Starter Centres in areas where golf has not previously been available to young people.”
Dunlop’s investment has also enabled the Golf Foundation to secure a substantial government grant through the Sportsmatch scheme; the sponsorship incentive scheme for grass roots sport.
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org