Tee Off with De Vere

De Vere Hotels & Resorts has given its support to a fundraising project started by online tee-time booking provider Teeofftimes.co.uk to help the next generation of golfers.

Teeofftimes.co.uk is the Golf Foundation’s new ‘Official Tee-Time Booking Partner’ and is helping the leading golf charity to raise awareness and funds with the support of its network of golf club customers.

Selected golf clubs are now being asked by the Golf Foundation to donate funds raised from the sale of four golf course green fees, collected by the Teeofftimes.co.uk team. Teeofftimes.co.uk will also be donating all of the commission from the sale of these tee times directly to the Foundation’s ‘HSBC Golf Roots’ programme, which reaches more than 750,000 youngsters through golf each year.

De Vere Hotels & Resorts, will provide support by donating the revenue obtained from multiple tee times at eight of its resorts that are booked via Teeofftimes.co.uk. De Vere has been one of the leading investors into the development of golf across all levels over recent years, by investing into the staging of professional tournaments, backing young up-and-coming professionals, and providing dedicated Academies and coaching across the portfolio of resorts.

The Golf Foundation is also pleased with the numbers of individual clubs already joining the project in its early stages. This is aimed at existing Teeofftimes.co.uk customers for ease of administration in donating tee times.

Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “The team at Teeofftimes.co.uk suggested this excellent fundraising idea, utilising its innovative reach and influence in the tee booking sector to put something back into the game. Clearly, De Vere is a company that shares these values and its support now is a brilliant start to this project. I am sure many individual clubs will now follow this example.”

Money raised will support the charity’s work in making the game more accessible to children from all backgrounds and circumstances. The Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots strategy grows the game in schools and communities and then encourages more young people into the club environment where, through the PGA-endorsed Junior Golf Passport, they are coached by PGA Pro’s to be ready for regular play.

Richard Barker, General Manager of Teeofftimes.co.uk, said: “Teeofftimes.co.uk and the Golf Foundation understand that club members want to support the next generation of golfers and we have been delighted to help the charity through this method, which has been designed to make it easy for golf clubs to help. That De Vere has already shown its support says something about the company’s great enthusiasm for encouraging young people into the game.”

Keith Pickard, De Vere Group Director of Golf, commented: “Our aim has always been to develop and grow the game with golfers of all abilities throughout the UK. We have continued to look at new ways that we can bring new people into the game, especially the younger generation. Therefore, we are always on the lookout for new innovative ways that we can give back to the game, and this association with Teeofftimes.co.uk and the Golf Foundation is the perfect way to incorporate our fundraising efforts into systems that are already in place.”

Golf clubs who would like to find out more about how they can become involved at a local level with the Golf Foundation can contact one of seven Regional Development Officers. Please visit:

 www.golf-foundation.org

Golf clubs wishing to find out more about the services of Teeofftimes.co.uk can contact General Manager Richard Barker on 07793 775207, or email [email protected]

Photograph caption: From left – Keith Pickard, Group Director of Golf for De Vere, shakes hands on the project with Duncan Rougvie, Account Director for Teeofftimes.co.uk