Support the Samuel Ryder statue application

The Samuel Ryder Foundation is currently in the process of attempting to honour the Ryder Cup creator with a statue in his native St Albans - and you could help

Samuel Ryder

The Samuel Ryder Foundation is currently in the process attempting to honour the Ryder Cup creator with a statue in his native St Albans.

The Foundation - which lists Jack Nicklaus, Tony Jacklin and Peter Alliss as some of its patrons - is applying for planning permission from the local authority.

As such, the organisation is asking for golf fans to submit an email to the St Albans council in support of the proposed idea - following in the footsteps of the likes of Peter Dawson, the R&A's Chief Executive.

All emails should be sent to planningapplications@stalbans.gov.uk, quoting reference 5/2012/3231. The closing day for emails is February 15th.

The organisation has provided a list of suggestions to include in any prospective email (below):

The benefits that the statue would have as a tourist attraction to trade in the city, along with the Samuel Ryder Trail which is already in place.

Why we should honour Samuel Ryder in this way.

Samuel Ryder served the city as a Councillor and Mayor.

He was a major employer in the area.

He introduced one of the earliest sick pay schemes for his employees.

He financially supported many good causes.

He donated The Ryder Cup for the biannual contest between Europe and The United States of America. This has become one of the world's great sporting events. He elevated the status of the professional golfer, by his sponsorship in the 1920s.

The statue should be the first of a number of memorials to worthy citizens of our city.

This will give St Albans a new form of brand identity, think of Samuel Ryder and you think of St Albans.

Any support would be much appreciated.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x