Golf Foundation at the British Masters

With more than 1,500 youngsters enjoying a go at golf during The Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry (September 25-28) it was a good week for the Golf Foundation. The event was made even more special because four European Tour stars who have recently supported the Foundation finished in the top ten of the tournament, including the winner.

Boys and girls attending The Quinn Insurance British Masters with their families played Tri-Golf at a designated junior golf area in the tented village, created for the Golf Foundation by The European Tour, which is a funder and supporter of the charity that makes golf more accessible to youngsters from all backgrounds.

Meanwhile, out on the course, Spain s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano beat England s Lee Westwood in a play-off for the title. Gonzalo is a friend of the Golf Foundation. He took time out of his busy schedule during The Open Championship in 2006 to play hectic golf relay games with local schoolchildren. Lee Westwood is another supporter. A former Golf Foundation age group championship double-winner in his teens, Lee generously endorses the Foundation s annual Charity Challenge medal scoring competition.

Two other top-ten finishers at The Belfry, England s Ross Fisher and the Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, starred at The R&A Junior Golf Centre at this year s Open at Royal Birkdale, showing great skills to the children with Tri-Golf clubs.

Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: All our team remember the fun the youngsters had playing golf games and joking with Gonzalo at Hoylake and he no doubt inspired a few future star players then as he will have surely done this week. Lee has also been a terrific supporter so were delighted to see both their names at the top of the leaderboard at an event where we had so much junior activity.

We would like to thank The European Tour for this great opportunity. The Foundation has conducted junior events for visiting youngsters at a good number of European Tour and European Seniors Tour events this summer. We have been able to demonstrate our successful Tri-Golf initiative which is having such an impact in schools, and which helps to lay the groundwork for helping many youngsters to become included in club golf.

The junior work at European Tour events has been in support of the national golf partnerships which aim to increase junior numbers in England, Scotland and Wales. The Tri-Golf games were staged for the Foundation by its events delivery partner, Factory Eleven.

For more on The European Tour go to www.europeantour.com To learn more about the Golf Foundation call 01992 449830 or see www.golf-foundation.org