Four Living Legends Support the National Golf Club Challenge! Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros join Gary Player in giving their support to the National Golf Club Challenge.
The Challenge, recently featured on the European Tour website, will bring hundreds of golf clubs, and thousands of golfers together on the same weekend as part of a nationwide charity golf event - with the aim of raising a million pounds for the superb Help for Heroes charity.
With golf clubs entering on a daily basis, the National Golf Club Challenge is on course to become the largest amateur charity golf event to take place in the UK. The Challenge will be held on the 24th and 25th of July 2010 and is free to enter.
Messages of support for the Challenge have come from golf professionals, celebrities and now from four of the greatest golfers the game has ever seen: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros.
Jack Nicklaus, globally recognized as the greatest golfer of the last century, fashioned a competitive career that spanned six decades. Named Sports Illustrated’s Individual Male Athlete of the 20th Century and awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest honor bestowed on a civilian), Nicklaus’ legend has been built with 118 professional tournament victories worldwide, a record 18 professional major-championship titles and two United States Amateur Championships. He is the only player in history to have won each of the game’s majors at least three times (six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens), and is the only player to have completed the career “Grand Slam” on both the regular and senior tours.
Jack, now widely recognised as an acclaimed course designer, a global ambassador and spokesperson for the game, and a philanthropist who, among many causes, assists troops at home and abroad, said, “For all of us who love the game of golf and for those of us who have been given so much because of this great game, it's time to pay it back. And in doing so, we pay it forward. The efforts we have seen in the United States and now in the UK through Help for Heroes and the National Golf Club Challenge are truly a meaningful and impactful way for the golf world to recognize, thank, honor and aid our wounded and weary troops. I have always held a special place in my heart for the golf courses and clubs of the UK for the ways they embrace our game and respect its rich history and traditions. So it is only fitting that the birthplace of golf gives these efforts new life.”
Arnold Palmer amassed 92 national and international championships throughout his professional career. Besides his magnificent performance record, his magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness to everybody with whom he comes in contact have endeared him to millions throughout the world.
After leaning about the Challenge, Arnold Palmer said "What an excellent way for the golf world, through the Help for Heroes program, to honor and aid the needy wounded troops of the UK with such a far-ranging and potentially-lucrative fund-raiser as the National Golf Club Challenge next summer at The Belfry."
Gary Player is renowned as much for his dedication to the principles of excellence as he is for his golfing accomplishments. As the only modern golfer to win The British Open in three different decades, Gary Player has achieved the kind of worldwide acclaim reserved for only a handful of sporting greats.
"Every day many of us take for granted the sacrifices made by those who fight for our freedoms." Gary comments, "We take for granted the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon playing a round of golf, while a soldier is off firing a round of ammunition. It is our obligation to support those wounded heroes who have dedicated their lives to protecting ours. The National Golf Club Challenge is a meaningful opportunity for the golfing community to demonstrate their own commitment and support for these brave individuals."
Seve Ballesteros continues to be an inspiration in his personal life as much as he was during his professional career. In the Ryder Cup his presence from 1979 and, particularly from 1983, was the element of inspiration that changed the course of this competition.
After hearing about the Challenge, Seve commented. "I feel the National Golf Club Challenge is a fantastic way to get the golfing world to support a very worthy cause. I have dedicated my life to golf and think it's great to see my sport at the centre of a huge fundraising event for UK soldiers. Good luck and play well!"
Stacey Jeffries, the National Golf Club Challenge Event Director commented “We are very humbled to have the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros join Gary Player in supporting the National Golf Club Challenge.”
"We are passionate about making the National Golf Club Challenge a resounding success for all involved." Stacey continued, "To have four of the greatest golfers who have ever lived support our initiative to help our injured troops in their time of need, is a major boost to the Challenge and what it strives to achieve."
The format for the National Golf Club Challenge is very simple; the Challenge will coincide with each participating golf club's monthly stableford event, with each club turning the day into their own charity golf event, raising much needed funds for Help for Heroes.
The competing clubs will submit their aggregate scores from their best scoring 10 players. This will determine the top 6 golf clubs against standard scratch, who will then be invited to compete in the National Final.
The Grand Final, sponsored by YourGolfTravel.com, will be the conclusion of the 2010 National Golf Club Challenge. The two day event – hosted by The Belfry, one of the world’s leading golf resorts, and four times host to the Ryder Cup – will be a superb grand final, featuring a practice day, golf clinic, overnight accommodation, the final competition and a gala dinner, including guest speakers and the prize presentations.
For more information about The National Golf Club Challenge, including how to enter your golf club, go to
http://www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk or
www.ngcc2010.com.
For more information on the Help for Heroes charity and the work they do please visit their website:
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Stand golf course is a superb mixture of parkland and heathland, with stunning views over Lancashire and surrounding counties. It measures 6411 yards with only two par fives and two par threes and represents a fine test for all standards of golfer.
