Old Timers help Grassroots of the Game

Leading European Seniors Tour players have again pledged to take time out of their hectic schedules to help the Golf Foundation promote the sport to youngsters. For many years The European Tour has been a strong supporter of the Golf Foundation, a charity committed to the sporting and social development of young people through golf. With shared beliefs in the importance of looking to the future for the good of the game as a whole, The European Tour will assist the Foundation’s development team in setting up player clinics at six European Seniors Tour events across the 2008 Schedule. At each event, players will be on hand to show groups of local youngsters the basics of the swing and impress them with their shot making abilities. The majority of youngsters involved will be connected to Golf Foundation initiatives, which are aimed to establish links between schools and golf clubs and promote the structured learning programme – the Junior Golf Passport. The programme of clinics will be held at the following tournaments: the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open from June 13-15; the Irish Seniors Open from June 20-22; The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship from August 21-24; the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters from August 29-31; the Weston Homes PGA International Seniors from September 12-14; and the Scottish Seniors Open from September 26-28. Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “We are absolutely delighted to lend the European Seniors Tour’s support to the development of the game of golf, and to witness the experience of the past masters being handed over to a new generation of young players.” Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “It must be inspirational for a youngster to gain advice from a top European Seniors Tour professional, and then watch how he can shape and control a golf ball. The boys and girls involved will then be able to show their friends at their schools and clubs what they have learned. “The Golf Foundation’s presence at the events will mean we can help promote the positive benefits of the sport to the many families present. We are very grateful to The European Tour for this opportunity, which is a strong show of support for our aims and objectives in junior grass roots golf development.” This promotional work by the Golf Foundation is part of its support of the national golf partnerships of England, Scotland and Wales, with the aim of increasing participation by offering greater access to golf for youngsters.
The European Tour offered similar support in 2007. Then, in clinics at six events across Britain, the likes of Ryder Cup player Gordon J Brand of England, and Seniors Tour champions Jerry Bruner of America, Delroy Cambridge of Jamaica, Bob Cameron of England, and Horacio Carbonetti of Argentina, were among the household names helping the youngsters.