UPTURN IN FOUNDATION’S FORTUNES

At its AGM at Wentworth on 17^th May, the Golf Foundation announced that 2000 had been a very satisfactory year. Income increased by 47% to £1.322 million and expenditure on grass-roots development initiatives increased by 12% to £1.266 million leaving an operating surplus of £56,000. In addition to its own expenditure, the Foundation’s Development Team, working with local partnerships, introduced over £80,000 of new funding from the Sports Lottery ‘Awards for All’ programme for local projects.

During the year, Tri-Golf, the introductory game targeted at primary schools was successfully launched, 325 Golf Foundation Starter Centres spread across the British Isles organised beginner courses, nearly 2,000 groups of young people received subsidised coaching in schools, clubs and special needs centres, 32,500 Merit Award cards were issued, and over 250 Junior Golf Leaders were trained in conjunction with the PGA."

In England and Scotland the Foundation worked closely with the Men’s Unions, Ladies’ Associations and the PGA through national partnerships to implement co-ordinated junior development plans. These plans aim to provide young people in each country with a continuous path from beginner to junior club member, and it is hoped that formal partnerships in Wales and Ireland will be established in the future.

Chairman, Ian Peacock said, "I am delighted that the value of the role that the Golf Foundation now plays has been recognised and that we have received such generous backing from the R&A, the European Tour, the PGA and Ryder Cup Limited." He concluded, "There is still much more work to be done but the Foundation has every reason to look to the future with optimism."