Darren Clarke receives Golf Foundation's 'Spirit of Golf Award'

Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke winning the 2011 Open Championship. Photography: Scott Halleran/Getty Images
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Darren Clarke will be presented with the 'Spirit of Golf Award' for his contribution to inspiring a generation of young golfers.

Darren Clarke, one of golf’s most popular individuals, will be presented with the ‘Spirit of Golf Award’ tomorrow (15th July) in recognition of the tremendous work he has done to support and help to develop young golfers.

The ‘Spirit of Golf Award’ is given to a player who has been deemed to make an outstanding contribution to golf and inspire a new generation of youngsters to take up the sport. Since the introduction of the award in 2007, winners have included Gary Player, Lee Westwood and Tom Watson, who was presented the award in 2013.

The award will be presented by the Golf Foundation; a charity whose main aim is to make golf accessible to young people from a variety of different backgrounds and circumstances. They present the special award during the Open Championship each year, and it will be received tomorrow at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Darren is largely involved in the Darren Clarke Foundation, which was founded in 2002. The aim that Darren has for the foundation is to introduce golf to children of all ages who may never have experienced the game, as well as passing on his knowledge to those youngsters who are already making a name for themselves. His foundation is also working with Junior Golf Ireland, where children can learn to play and enjoy the game in school and through clubs.

As well as the presentation of the award, Darren will take part in a question and answer session with some of the young golfers and even take them on in a special golf challenge.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x