Pay it forward

Player gifts at Royal Porthcawl to inspire next generation

St Regulus junior members pose with donations at St Andrews

Aspiring young female golfers are once again set to benefit from a player donation station at the AIG Women’s Open.

The inspirational scheme will take place in the Players’ Clubhouse during the Championship at Royal Porthcawl, between 30 July and 3 August.

For several years, players at the AIG Women’s Open – and The Open – have donated new or nearly-new items for distribution as part of the Greenlinks Community Reuse Programme.

Donations regularly include golf balls, golf shoes and clothing, as well as clubs.

Championship Director Zoe Ridgway said: “The AIG Women’s Open is about more than just the world-class golf on-course; it is about inspiring the next generation of golfers, and the player donation station is a tangible example of this.

“We are always striving to make our Championships as sustainable as possible and to inspire young golfers along the way is the cherry on top.”

Providing a spark

The 55-strong junior section of St Regulus Ladies Golf Club were the lucky recipients of last year’s donations at St Andrews, with their week being topped off with a meet-and-greet with 2023 Champion Lilia Vu and fellow major winners Yuka Saso and Minjee Lee [below].

Junior members of St Regulus Golf Club pose with Yuka Saso (l) and Minjee Lee

Susie Woods, from St Regulus Golf Club, said: “It felt like Christmas had come early.

“I remember one little girl was over the moon because she’d never had proper golf trousers, and she was gifted two adidas pairs.

“From a player’s perspective, it may seem like a small thing to donate a dozen golf balls, but having a sleeve of Pro V1s is huge for a junior member who wouldn’t normally have access to them.

“Even though a player might think an old towel or umbrella might only be fit for the bin, that one item could provide the spark to encourage a young girl to stick at her golf.

“It’s something the girls still talk about a year later.”