In order of appearance: Michael Wells, Chief Executive Officer, Carnoustie Golf Links; Cllr David Cheape, Community Benefits Convenor; and Lee Bowen, Community Benefits Administrator of the Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Programme Committee.
Monday 6th May 2024, Carnoustie Scotland: May 2024 sees Carnoustie Golf Links re-open applications for its Community Benefits Programme. After a highly anticipated re-launch of the charitable programme in 2022, The Links – who are a registered charity – were delighted to bring back the opportunity for local good causes and community groups to apply for access to funding. In 2023 the Links committed to fund over £112k to local services and groups, in its biggest donation to date, bringing the total to nearly £400k.
Since obtaining charitable status in 2014, Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Programme has donated nearly £400k to local services and groups, with the programme’s objectives being to: encourage and promote public participation in the sport of golf in the area of Angus; promote the provision for development of recreational facilities in the Carnoustie area with the object of improving the recreational facilities or activities available to citizens residing within the Carnoustie area; promote the advancement of the arts, heritage, and culture for the benefits of citizens residing within the Carnoustie area; promote the advancement of community development for the benefit of citizens residing within the Carnoustie area; and promote the advancement of environmental protection or improvement.
In the 2023 round of funding, Carnoustie Golf Links committed to fund over £112k to 20 different local groups, and later added further support to the town’s Citizen of the Year presentation, £25k funding towards the town’s Christmas Lights and Tree, and donated £5k towards Brechin’s flood defence fund, following the storm that hit the town and impacted so many Angus residents.
Michael Wells, Chief Executive of Carnoustie Golf Links said, “I am delighted with the continued growth of the Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Fund. Contributing nearly £400,000 since 2014 would not be possible without welcoming visitors from all over the world to play Carnoustie’s golf courses. I am extremely proud of all our staff who work tirelessly to ensure we can maximise this benefit to our local community.”
The Community Benefits Programme is one branch of the community outreach projects conducted all year round by Carnoustie Golf Links, with others including free weekly junior coaching to over 400 local children, their Girls.Lead.Golf Academy, golfers with disabilities coaching, high-performance junior coaching, providing free facilities, including a public putting green and five hole development golf course (with free golf clubs/balls for hire), community café support and providing greenkeepers expertise and equipment to local groups.
Carnoustie Golf Links is extremely proud to be a host venue for The Open Championship – an event that brings significant revenue into the region and creates perpetual benefits for the local area. Not only does this world-famous golfing event generate a substantial cash injection into Carnoustie, Angus and Scotland as a whole, it also benefits the community through The R&A’s Open Legacy Fund. The Open Legacy Fund saw £100,000 in donations to local community projects after the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie. The latest community project to benefit from the funding is The Fairy Steps Trail, which sees the project take on a mission to reinstate the path to The Fairy Steps, the steps themselves and the connecting bridge. Other community-based projects and organisations that have benefitted from The Open Legacy Fund, include Colourful Carnoustie, Cycling without Age and Friends of Barry Mill.
Full details of Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Programme and information on how to apply can be found: www.carnoustiegolflinks.com/about-us/charity/community-benefits-application/.
For any further information or advice, please email Lee Bowen, Community Benefits Administrator, on [email protected].
Applications close at 5pm on Monday 15th July 2024 and the presentation evening will take place in October.