The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative has raised €100,000 for four local charities at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, with money pledged for every birdie and eagle made on the iconic 17th hole at Real Club Valderrama.
Launched at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House in July, the #GolfForGood initiative will continue to underpin the 2020 Race to Dubai season. More than €800,000 has now been shared amongst local, national, and international charitable causes in the first seven weeks of the rescheduled season.
For every birdie at the famous 17th there was a pledge of €500 for the charitable fund, and an additional €1,500 for every eagle. In total there were 130 birdies and 16 eagles made with home favourite Nacho Elvira and American Johannes Veerman both carding two eagles and a birdie across the four tournament days.
With a total of €89,000 raised as a result of the birdies and eagles on the 17th, the European Tour, Estrella Damm, the Junta de Andalucía and Real Club Valderrama rounded up the charitable contribution to €100,000.
The four charities receiving a share of the €100,000 are:
• FEGADI, which funds 36 different entities with a focus on quality of life, participation and achievement through health, culture, youth, sports and education.
• Academia Andaluza de Gastronomía y Turismo, which promotes the region of Andalucía.
• Fundación Aljaraque, which promotes and develops programs in the hospitality industry for training and empowerment of vulnerable people.
• Por Una Sonrisa, which works with children and adolescents suffering from cancer.
Peter Adams, Championship Director of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, said: “Golf for Good is underpinning the entire 2020 Race to Dubai season and we are delighted to have continued the success of the initiative from the UK Swing in continental Europe at Real Club Valderrama.
“The players’ excellent form on the 17th hole helped raise vital funds for these four charities which will go towards supporting many people in the region of Andalucía.”
In addition to the funds raised at Real Club Valderrama, range balls from the Iberian Swing will be donated by Álvaro Quirós to Club de Golf La Cañada, located near Real Club Valderrama, the course he learned to play golf at as a junior.
The ‘Golf for Good’ initiative aims to give back in three key areas:
▪ Supporting the Communities where the European Tour plays.
▪ Rewarding the true heroes, such as the front line workers.
▪ Promoting the many health benefits that golf offers.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, an event in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai made possible by the essential contribution of the Real Club Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU, declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Spanish Government. This tournament is also supported by Rolex, Exterior Plus, Santander Private Banking and Shell. Callaway, Coca-Cola, Enterprise, Grupo Raga, Kyocera, Marca, Maui Jim, the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf, Riversa, Varma and Volvo are official suppliers.
