More than £40,000 was raised for a local charity at a major international golf club managers’ conference in St Andrews last week.
The Business Management Institute VI "Traditions, Innovations and Future Trends" conference was held at the St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa and attracted more than 90 delegates from America, China, South Africa, Germany, Ireland, England and across Scotland.
Each year the BMI VI conference supports a nominated charity and this year St Andrews Links Trust suggested the Keepers of the Green charity which provides powered mobility for the needy of all ages and promotes the traditions of golf.
The money was raised through various fundraising activities throughout the week culminating in a charity auction which was held at the gala dinner on Wednesday (Nov 9) evening.
At the end of the evening a cheque for £40,593 was presented to David Joy and Jimmy Bone, respectively the patron and secretary of Keepers of the Green, by Bill Wagner, president of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) and John Duncan, president of the Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE). The sum raised was equivalent to nearly 15 powered wheelchairs.
The conference, which concluded on Thursday (Nov 10) featured a full programme of educational seminars and presentations and a full social programme for delegates and their wives. The presentations included the history of St Andrews and the history of golf, the R&A’s golf development programme, the future of ladies’ golf, the development and promotion of junior golf, future trends in golf course maintenance.
The Scottish Region of the CMAE (the European branch of the Association) was founded in 2003. Its aim is to encourage the education and advancement of club managers, to assist in the most efficient and successful operation of clubs, and to promote networking and educational opportunities for all members.
Contact:
Mike Woodcock
Communications manager
St Andrews Links Trust
01334 466610
E-mail mikewoodcock@standrews.org.uk
