Legacy project wins golf development award
9th December, 2011 by Emma Williams
The Kent Open Legacy project, which helped introduce thousands of people to golf, has won the inaugural Golf Development Award from the PGAs of Europe.
The award is designed to recognise a project which has excelled in developing the game and was presented at a glittering dinner in the Algarve at the end of the PGAs of Europe’s annual week of highlights.
The presentation was watched by a gathering of players, delegates and industry representatives from 31 countries and across four continents.
The Open Legacy was devised to leave a lasting legacy for the people of Kent from golf’s Open Championship, when the global sporting event was played at Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, in July 2011.
It proved to be hugely successful and resulted in the recruitment of 25 golf ‘ambassadors’, aged 16-23, who were deployed at The Open, who helped 3,104 people get involved in golf legacy activities across Kent, along with the help of 50 Kent PGA professionals.
Andy Willems, the England Golf regional development officer for the South East, commented: “It is amazing for the project to be recognised with a European Award. This is a great testament to all those involved and a big thank you must go to The R&A and PGA for their support.
“We are very proud to be the inaugural winners and, on behalf of all the coaches, young ambassadors, volunteers and clubs we thank the PGAs of Europe for this honour. We hope the work carried out will inspire more people to start, play and join golf in Kent.”
The PGAs of Europe’s annual week of highlights at Vilamoura included the 22nd Annual Congress and the International Team Championship (ITC) supported by Glenmuir, Associaçäo Turismo do Algarve, Ryder Cup European Development Trust and Rolex. Elsewhere, Vicente Ballesteros accepted the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his brother Severiano.