Nicolas Colsaerts presents Golf Foundation Annual Awards at Wentworth

The “heroes of junior golf” who have given their time to provide young people with a start in the game were celebrated on Wednesday May 21 with The Golf Foundation President’s Awards.

The “heroes of junior golf” who have given their time to provide young people with a start in the game were celebrated on Wednesday May 21 with The Golf Foundation President’s Awards.

The awards ceremony was held at Wentworth Club’s Ballroom. The audience from the world of golf heard the stories of nine award winners and their projects.

PGA Professionals, junior organisers, schoolteachers and local authority officers who all help to develop the golfers and leading players of the future were in attendance.

Charles Harrison, chairman of the Golf Foundation, gave special mention to the generosity of The European Tour and Wentworth Club for providing the stage.

Harrison also thanked the ceremony’s guests of honour, Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts, who kindly presented each of the awards on the day.

Colsaerts was one of the heroes on his Ryder Cup debut in 2012 where he and Lee Westwood beat Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in the Friday fourballs with the Belgian star carding eight birdies and an eagle of his own in that match.

Charles Harrison said: “So many of us remember the wonderful effort of Nicolas at Medinah.

“We could wish for no better golfer to present our awards today as he and the rest of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team will have been a huge inspiration to a new generation of young golfers and also to all those who work in the sport.”

Leading the ceremony, Golf Foundation Chief Executive Mike Round said: “Every year we organise this event so we can highlight the incredible work of the people at the grass roots who make it possible for children and young people to experience golf and the benefits it has to offer.

“In the newspapers over the next few days, we will read about the incredible ability of the golfers taking part at Wentworth this week.

“It is however worth remembering that the efforts and achievements of our award winners are equally impressive, albeit in a different way.

“Without these dedicated, heroes of junior golf, many of golf’s star players would never find their game, and thousands of other young people would miss the chance to enjoy this great sport.”