Golf Foundation builds on success with awards

Ryder Cup-winning Captain Bernhard Gallacher and celebrity golfer DJ Spoony were amongst the guests at the Golf Foundation’s Annual Awards Ceremony, but the real stars of the show were the winners of the awards themselves.

Gallacher, who guided Europe to victory in 1995 at Oak Hill Country Club in America, is currently the Vice President of the Golf Foundation, a charity which aims to give all youngsters a positive experience through the medium of golf, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The awards, which were handed out by Gallacher in the Ballroom at Wentworth Club, were created to acknowledge and reward the achievements of those working to develop and support grass roots junior golf.

The Sir Henry Cotton Award, named in honour of the founder of the Golf Foundation, went to Tony Adams, for the work he has done in promoting and organising junior golf activity in the Rotherham area over a period of 35 years.

Oak Park professional Gavin Grenville-Wood was the winner of the Mackenzie Award – which was first awarded to DJ Spoony – for the way he has promoted ‘skills for life’ through his coaching programmes, and for the work he has done in supporting and educating pupils with special educational needs and behavioural problems.

The Gallacher Award, awarded for golf volunteering and named in honour of the Foundation’s Vice President, was won by Andrew McDonald for the contributions he made in ensuring the success of the Golf Roots project in Newcastle, and the National Golf Roots Festival in Loughborough.

PGA professional Matt Conner made an emotional speech after picking up the Sinclair Award in recognition of his commitment to providing a wide range of opportunities for youngsters through local schools and at the Golf Centre.

There were also awards for: North Lanarkshire Junior Golf Development (the Critchley Award); the Girls Allowed Project (the ‘Laddie’ Lucas Award); the Mid-Sussex School Sport Partnership (the Bonallack Award); the Bristol Special Schools Project (the Burroughs Award); and Tiverton Golf Club (the Gus Payne Award).

On top of the £1,540 the members had already donated last year, Tiverton Golf Club also presented the Foundation with a cheque for a further £2,000 which had been raised since the start of the year.

Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “All of our award winners are hugely deserving of the accolade as they have given so much of their time, enthusiasm and expertise to help young golfers from all backgrounds. Their dedication to supporting the future of the game has been of the highest order.”

For more information about the Golf Foundation’s work, visit their websitehere