Six inspiring winners recognised at Wentworth during the BMW PGA Championship, where the Golf Foundation was the Official Charity of the Tournament
The life-changing impact of golf on young people was celebrated in style at Wentworth Club as the Golf Foundation President's Awards 2025 took centre stage during the week of the BMW PGA Championship.
Hosted by Golf Foundation President Nick Dougherty, the annual awards recognised six inspiring winners — across schools, clubs, community projects, young leaders and fundraisers — who are helping to make golf more inclusive and accessible for the next generation. Those who are living the Golf Foundation values day in and day out, and inspiring so many others.
More than 120 people gathered for the celebration, where they were welcomed by Dougherty alongside Golf Foundation CEO Brendon Pyle and Chair Steven Day.
Golf is more than a game. It's a way of building resilience, confidence and community. These winners are grassroots heroes who show that golf can inspire young people from every background. They are the future of the sport.
Bristol & Clifton Golf Club was celebrated as Junior Club of the Year, with juniors Ronan and Scarlett themselves taking to the stage alongside club organisers. Junior Captain Ronan summed up the club's ethos simply: "Golf is more than just about the sport — it's about the friends and experiences you have at the club." The club's thriving section of 152 juniors includes SEND children, Tiny Tots, GolfSixes and GolfNines players.
Community was also at the heart of the Lincolnshire Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which won Community Project of the Year. Working with the Golf Foundation, PING and Golfway, the project has given thousands of children on free school meals the chance to try golf for the first time. Project Officer Sarah Tyrrell said: "At our last event, 200 children turned up and wanted to try every activity. More and more are now saying golf is their favourite sport."
The Sir Henry Cotton Award, celebrating a lifetime of achievement and dedication to growing the game, went to PGA professional James Erskine, whose dedication to junior golf in southwest Scotland has seen more than 10,000 children introduced to the game and over 20 of his pupils go on to become PGA professionals. "It's not about producing tour players," he said, "it's about giving kids the gift of golf and helping them belong to clubs."
Youth leadership was recognised through the Young Spirit of Golf Award, given each year to celebrate the legacy of the great Dinah Oxley. This year's winner Chloe Saunders is a former Young Ambassador, now a teaching assistant who has introduced golf into her own school through the Unleash Your Drive programme. "The best feeling," she said, "is hearing a pupil say 'Miss Saunders taught me golf.'"
The School of the Year Award went to Upton St Leonards Primary in Gloucester. Deputy Head Andy Lewis reflected: "Probably 50 out of 60 children would never have picked up a golf club if not for this programme. Golf taught them patience, perseverance and how to learn from mistakes — skills they can use in the classroom and in life."
This week has shown the full power of golf — from world-class professionals inspiring fans on the course, to grassroots champions inspiring children in schools, clubs and communities. Our award winners remind us that the future of the game is bright, inclusive and full of opportunity.
The evening closed with the Gus Payne Fundraising Award, which went to the Royal Automobile Club. In just three years, RAC grew its junior section from five to 150 members while raising an incredible £25,000. RAC Captain Donald said: "We've all benefited from golf — this was our chance to give something back."
Click through to read the full story behind each of this year's six award winners.
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