The R&A has joined forces with Scottish Golf by providing a £10,000 cash boost to help fund the Scottish Golf Awareness Week, aimed at helping clubs to promote their facilities and increase adult golf club membership across the country.
The R&A’s support announced today will help the initiative target potential golf club members and highlight the many benefits of golf club membership as well as provide clubs with a toolkit of information devised to help them maximise opportunities to market their facilities.
The national campaign, the first initiative of its kind launched by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, will commence the week following the US Masters and clubs across the country are being encouraged to get involved, although activity does not need to be restricted to that week alone.
It is hoped that the golf week or ‘Love Golf – Join the Club’ initiative will kick start the 2009 season and beyond, in seeking to attract much needed members to maintain the health of the game in the home of golf. The cash injection from golf’s world rules and development body is very welcome in the current challenging economic climate affecting industries across the globe as well as the sport and leisure sectors.
Duncan Weir, R&A Director of Golf Development said, “The R&A sees it as one of its roles to not only encourage people to play golf but to join clubs and this is why we decided to offer financial support towards this Golf week initiative.
Scotland as the home of golf is unique in golfing terms and we are keen to see golfers joining clubs and maintaining the strong and vibrant club scene that so many have enjoyed for so many years.”
Andy Salmon, Scottish Golf Development Manager who is driving this innovative campaign, added, “We are delighted that The R&A has lent its support to this new initiative to encourage nomadic golfers to join golf clubs.
“This backing enables us to deliver our plans and provide a significant level of support to our affiliated clubs. There is no question that strong clubs are the key to a healthy sport and we are excited about the prospects for Golf Awareness Week.”
Case studies helping clubs to share best practice as part of the information pack available on the ‘Love Golf – Join the Club’ campaign is available by visiting the Scottish Golf website www.scottishgolf.org