European Tour continues to support the Golf Foundation

The European Tour continued its pledge to increase the number of juniors playing the game when it hosted officers from the Golf Foundation, a charity dedicated to making golf more accessible to young people.

During their visit to the Tour?s Wentworth headquarters, the Foundation's Regional Development Officers (pictured holding the Ryder Cup at Wentworth, from left: Glenn Ross, John Wood, Martin Crowder, Andy Leigh, Carol Macdonald and Gareth Jenkins) were assured of future support. The Tour will provide tented areas for the Foundation at several leading tournaments this season, including the BMW PGA Championship (24-27 May at Wentworth) and the Quinn Direct British Masters (20-23 September at the De Vere Belfry). There will also be a series of junior golf clinics at Senior European Tour events.

The Foundation has recently sought to create easy access to golf clubs for first-time golfers still at school. It has also set up the Golf Roots project to introduce community golf programmes to inner city areas.

The Tour not only backs these projects, but also helps organise the annual Golf Foundation Pro-Am, providing the field of professionals and overseeing the preparation of the venue.

The Foundation?s initiatives reach about 500,000 children across Britain each year.

Mike Round, the Foundation?s chief executive, said: ?Each of us is passionate about introducing golf to youngsters. This visit was memorable because a very committed group of people got to meet with staff from the European Tour, a body that is highly supportive of what we are trying to achieve.?