PROSIMMON AND SPORTSMATCH CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT EGU ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP SCHEME

Prosimmon Golf (UK) Pty LTD, sponsors of the EGU Associate Membership Scheme are to continue their sponsorship for a second year. Prosimmon have agreed to provide £60,000 over three years to help develop the game of golf at grass roots level.

The Associate Membership Scheme, now in its third year, has already helped over 7,000 non-golf members to take up the game - educating them on the rules and etiquette and allowing them to gain recognition of their ability through an official EGU/ELGA Associate Membership handicap.

The overall aim of the scheme is to help these golfers gain access to golf club membership and current figures show 40% of Associate Members after their first year have gone on to do so, highlighting the effectiveness of this grass roots scheme.

In addition to support from Prosimmon, the scheme has also been awarded funding for a second year from Sportsmatch - the Government's Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme for Sport, which is administered in England by the Institute of Sports Sponsorship (ISS).

Paul Baxter, EGU Secretary said: "I am delighted that the EGU Associate Membership Scheme has had such a positive effect on grass roots golf and we aim to continue to help as many people as possible gain access to this great game."

The sponsorship money will be used mainly to attract more people into the game through Associate Membership and will also help fund another EGU grass roots initiative called "free golf coaching for beginners". Dates and venues for a national campaign of free golf coaching between June and September will be announced shortly, benefiting thousands of potential golfers throughout England.