DJ Spoony tees up to launch year two of Golf Roots

Wednesday 5 May 2004:  Top BBC Radio 1 presenter and golf fanatic, DJ Spoony, will be ‘teeing off’ year two of the Golf Roots programme, an innovative inner city grassroots golf initiative, at The Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at The Marriott Forest of Arden.  The Daily Telegraph Marriott Golf Roots programme supported by Sportsmatch* – a Golf Foundation junior development initiative in conjunction with The European Tour – aims to build on the outstanding success achieved in its first year by introducing golf to over 40,000 inner city children by the end of 2004. 

DJ Spoony, born in Hackney, has always been a sports fanatic and jumped at the opportunity to champion Golf Roots.  He says:  “It’s a question of accessibility and the need to give everyone the same opportunities.  Golf Roots is offering inner city children the chance to try golf in a fun, welcoming environment, and that has to be a good thing.”

Golf Foundation CEO Mike Round adds:   "Golf has always struggled for young people’s attention in comparison to sports like football, but through Golf Roots we are able to engage children from inner cities and give them the opportunity to try the game for the first time.  It is about making golf easier to experience and more appealing.”

“I am delighted that year two of the initiative has again attracted the backing of The Daily Telegraph and Marriott Hotels, both of whom have a long-standing commitment to golf, and is also being supported again by The European Tour.”

Year two sees Golf Roots expanding from four to six cities and targeting 60 primary schools. Children will participate in Tri-Golf sessions during curriculum time before progressing to inter-school festivals at urban golf venues. Golf Roots will also hold ‘outreach’ days in each city, where the public will be invited to join the fun through interactive golfing games at public venues.  Running from June to August, the initiative is part of a wider year-round Golf Foundation national outreach programme.

Mark Dixon, Marketing Director, The Daily Telegraph Group Limited, sees Golf Roots as an ideal way of challenging peoples perceptions about the game:  "We want to make it easier for inner city kids to get into what is traditionally seen as an elitist sport.  Golf Roots gives us the chance to open up the game to a new, wider audience at the grassroots level”

David MacLaren, Director of Golf, Marriott Hotels, stresses:  "Following Golf Roots overwhelming success last year, year two is about introducing golf to new inner city kids as well as retaining the young players from year one.  This will be achieved by recruiting and training more local volunteer Junior Golf Leaders to continue working in the inner city communities."

The European Tour has supported the Golf Roots initiative throughout its first year and continues to do so.  Spokesperson and former European Tour golfer, Fredrick Lindgren comments:  "In 2003, Golf Roots uncovered some naturally talented youngsters, with a little luck we may unearth the future stars of The European Tour.”

If you are interested in Golf Roots, or would like any further information on how to become involved in golf, please email Activate UK on: [email protected].
DJ