Birmingham, England: The Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain & Ireland (PGA of GB&I) has underlined its continued support of initiatives for young people and the work of the Golf Foundation by donating £40,000 to the national charity.

The PGA of GB&I Chief Executive Robert Maxfield presented the cheque to Young Ambassadors Kennedy Murphy and Olivia Whittle during their recent visit to the association’s Belfry headquarters.

Murphy and Whittle are among 23 young volunteers who have been helping to deliver the Golf Foundation/England Golf Junior Strategy, of which PGA Professionals play a key role in growing the game and supporting the well-being of young people in a range of initiatives.   

Maxfield said: “We’re delighted to maintain our support of and long association with the Golf Foundation that began more than 70 years ago when it was established by one of the PGA’s most distinguished members, Sir Henry Cotton.

“Sir Henry, a three-time Open Championship winner and former PGA Captain, was keen to introduce children from all backgrounds to golf and since then thousands have taken up the game.

“In doing so, many have been helped by PGA Professionals who have promoted and followed the Golf Foundation’s excellent and ground-breaking initiatives to realise Sir Henry’s dream. Long may our association continue.”

Crucially, PGA Professionals are at the heart of the Golf Foundation’s support for golf clubs, including a core number formerly known as Golf Roots Centres. The Foundation’s team of seven Regional Development Officers has the expertise to help create a tailored programme for the needs of each of these golf clubs to encourage more young people to start and stay in the game. 

This includes direct and flexible support for PGA Professionals to grow their junior sections and welcome more families into the life of the club, thus making a greater impact on their surrounding community with the opportunity of growing their business. 

On accepting the donation, Head of Development for the Foundation Martin Crowder said there has never been a better time for PGA Professionals to work with the Golf Foundation’s team. 

Crowder said: “This donation from The PGA is very much welcomed. The PGA has been a highly valued partner of our charity for a great many years and we rely on the support of its members to inspire more young people to get the most out of our game. 

“We all recognise that a young person’s experience of being coached by an expert PGA Professional at club level can be fundamental in helping them to develop a life-long love of golf.

“It is fantastic for our team to be supporting golf clubs and their PGA Professionals to encourage more children from all backgrounds, and help them to thrive through their enjoyment of golf. This shared vision remains important if we want to continue to find new audiences for our sport.”

*The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.