Golf: R&A donates £10,000 to help membership campaign

THE Royal and Ancient has stepped in to assist ailing Scottish golf clubs by donating £10,000 to help fund a campaign to promote membership across the country.

Duncan Weir, the R&A's director of golf development said: "The R&A sees it as one of its roles not only to encourage people to play golf but to join clubs and this is why we decided to offer financial support towards this Scottish Golf Awareness week initiative."

The national campaign, the first initiative of its kind launched by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, will commence the week following the Masters at Augusta next month.

Thousands of golfers in Scotland will not renew their memberships with clubs this year, leaving a number of clubs facing serious financial difficulties.