Sandy Jones The New President of the Golf Foundation

PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones has gratefully accepted the opportunity from the golf charity to become their next President; he will begin this role in April 2016. By James Taylor

The Charity was previously run by Colin Montgomerie who was keen on making benefits to young people and making them ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport.

Over 2.5 million young people across the UK have been given their first introduction to golf from the Golf Foundation’s ‘HSBC Golf Roots’ since it first began in 2011.

The amount of junior members at golf clubs has increased due to this technique alone, this uses the ‘Skills for Life’ offered to children gaining the benefits of the game.

New President Jones will continue the positive momentum and also keep the community level at a high to reach the targets in place from now till 2018.

Chairman of the Golf Foundation, Charles Harrison said:

“The Golf Foundation’s Trustees all believe that Sandy Jones will make an excellent President of our charity, following in the great footsteps of Colin Montgomerie, and before him, Ken Schofield and Bernard Gallacher,

“Sandy is one of the best connected and most respected figures in all of golf, and we are delighted he will be our new President.”

Harrison added: “Sandy’s unrivalled experience and knowledge of all stages of golf development will be of great help in further developing our close relationships with PGA Professionals as we work together to grow junior membership and retention levels in our golf clubs.”

Sandy Jones the new president of the Golf Foundation said:

“I was thrilled to be asked to take on this role and I’m aware that I’m following some really great names as President in recent times,

"This charity is all about helping the next generation of young players, so if I can help the Golf Foundation team through my experience in the game I’ll be delighted.”

Jones added: “I’ve worked for the PGA for 37 years but I may never have started my career in golf administration had I not been asked to help run my home club’s junior section when I was in my twenties. That was my actual starting point,

“My Mother showed me how to play golf in the garden when I was six; I became a junior member of Mount Ellen Golf Club, Glasgow, at the age of 12,

"These are vivid memories and I never forget what it is like to be a junior member starting out in the game, needing the support of adults at the golf club.”

Previous President Colin Montgomerie was in the position for five years and has brought the company where it is today and sustained a successful growth.

During his five year spell, Montgomerie used the PGA Junior Golf Passport Program to ensure regular play of golf at either a golf course or driving range.

This is due to the HSBC Golf Roots introducing golf to young people of all backgrounds. Around 3,600 new members were created in England last year due to the HSBC Golf Roots Program.

Other countries outside of England like Scotland and Wales were strongly supported by the foundation and grass roots development.

Other aims of the Golf Foundation before 2018 are to encourage 50,000 youngsters to practice at a golf club. This will create around 10,000 new regular players and 5,000 new junior members.

Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said:

“Colin Montgomerie has been an inspirational President for the Golf Foundation as this charity has sought to raise itself to a higher level in terms of enriching the lives of young people through golf."

He added: “We look forward to thanking him formally, and wishing him well for the future, when it is time for Colin to hand over the reins to Sandy at our AGM in April.”