Beef Becomes Official Ambassador For Golf Foundation
ANDREW ‘Beef’ Johnston has become an official ambassador for the Golf Foundation to help promote this charity’s ‘Golf for All’ philosophy, which encourages young people of all abilities to enjoy all the game’s benefits.
At Wentworth, during the BMW PGA Championship, Beef put his name and positive personality behind the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots initiative reaching 500,000 boys and girls in schools, communities and golf clubs each year, encouraging young people to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport. Beef – who came up through the junior ranks in the Home Counties, playing at Whetstone’s North Middlesex GC, in clearly relished his first job as an Ambassador, which was to launch new, improved ‘Tri-Golf’ equipment the Foundation takes into nearly 3,000 schools.
The colourful, fun format helps children onto a proven player pathway from school to regular golf at a golf club. Playing with and against boys and girls from St Margaret’s School, Bracknell, Beef played quick-fire Tri-Golf games such as ‘Drive for Show, Putt for Dough’, ‘Beat-the-Clock’ and ‘The Race to ThePie’, much to the enjoyment of everyone present, before answering questions from the youngsters.
They asked how the son of a bus driver, whose mum was a dinner lady, started in golf as a nine-year-old, his hopes for the season, his best win, and about his beloved Arsenal FC plus plenty more.
When asked about why golf was a good sport, Andrew said: “Golf gives you a challenge every day and asks questions of you all the time.
“You can play golf with everyone, family and friends together; it’s a healthy outdoor sport which teaches you about life and it should always be great fun!”
Beef has already been supportive of the Golf Foundation.
During The 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon, he gave kids who were brand new to the game a fantastic session of Tri-Golf in the R&A Swing Zone.
It is thought Johnston’s can-do attitude can further support the children’s charity helping youngsters from all backgrounds to thrive in playing the game and through the personal life skills golf offers.
Golf Foundation chief executive Brendon Pyle said: “Beef’s excellent play on the golf course is exciting but, of course, it is also the way he plays the game which the Golf Foundation team appreciates.
“We love the way Beef makes the sport fun, that he always plays with a smile for the spectators and his playing partners, and he always has time to say hello to kids and sign autographs, helping to really inspire them.
“Andrew clearly embodies all our values and it is a real privilege to welcome him as an Ambassador for this charity.”The Foundation seeks to connect 50,000 kids to a playing experience at a golf club every year and is looking to create 15,000 regular golfers annually and 5,000 members.
And it’s far from being just about the numbers – the Golf Foundation website has a growing base of case-studies which shows how community projects and young golfers have benefited through the sport.
Learn more at www.golf-foundation.org
