PEGC makes huge contribution to development

Port Elizabeth Golf Club (PEGC) has taken the lead in supporting the development of golf in the Eastern Province region by handing over R45 000 to the EP Golf Union for the benefit of junior golf. The money was raised through the club’s rand-a-round project.

“We are a large club and have the means and desire to support those that are less fortunate by assisting them to play this wonderful game,” said PEGC club manager Rob Orchard. “The funds were raised by allocating R1 of the competition fee for every competition round played at the club.”

The money, which will be administered by the EPGU, will be used to support the SA Golf Development Board and SA Junior Golf Foundation (SAJGF). SAGDB development manager John Bailey said that the contribution was “great news” for the board’s programmes.

The SA Golf Association’s president Neale Kunhardt said that PE Golf Club was setting an example for other clubs to follow. He hoped more clubs would get involved with rand-a-round, SAGDB adopt-a-chapter initiatives or efforts put in place by their respective unions.

“PEGC sees the SAGDB and the SAJGF as the medium for promoting the game at grassroots and junior level and recognises an obligation to assist the promotion of the game,” he said. “After all that is where future club members are going to come from.”

“The SAGA hopes that the SAGDB will continue to bring forth golfers from the previously disadvantaged ranks by introducing the game to them and identifying talent for
the SAJGF to nurture and promote at a competitive level,” Kunhardt said.

PEGC has supported the development of golf for many years already, and currently has 49 members from disadvantaged communities on its books. These members enjoy the club’s facilities without having to pay any annual subscriptions.

The club also recently took on five juniors from the ranks of the SAGDB. These juniors make use of the course without having to pay and playing fees and the club also makes provision for their transport and meals.

Orchard said that the SAGDB is well placed to develop the game and hoped that the funds raised by the club would be put to good use within the EP region. He also encouraged other clubs to support the development of the game through the rand-a-round project which he described as a “good means of raising funds”.