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European Tour Knowledge Reports

Every Birdie Counts Campaign – European Tour group’s Golf for Good raises £125,000 for UNICEF

Keith Pelley and Paul Casey.(Getty)

The European Tour group’s Golf for Good raised a total of £125,000 for UNICEF through its season-long ‘Every Birdie Counts’ campaign. The campaign, supporting UNICEF’s work as part of the COVAX Facility, raised sufficient funds to help the children’s charity. The did so by delivering 50,000 vaccines to some of the world’s most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach nations.

‘Every Birdie Counts’ is an integral part of the European Tour group’s overarching CSR Programme ‘Golf for Good’ during the 2021 season. Also, it raised a minimum of €1 for UNICEF for every single birdie made during the campaign, with €10 donated for every eagle and €1,000 for every albatross.

DP World Tour Championship boosted up the total.

The season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai gave a significant ‘Birdie Boost’ to those numbers. Then, the European Tour group’s Golf for Good pledged €75 for every birdie made at the final Rolex Series event of the season. This was to mark UNICEF’s milestone 75th anniversary as well as World Children’s Day, which coincided with day three of the prestigious tournament.

There was a total of €77,451 raised prior to the finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates, thanks to 57,641 birdies, 1,681 eagles and three albatrosses across a season which began with January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The DP World Tour Championship, meanwhile, yielded 862 birdies and 19 eagles, raising a total of €66,550 in a brilliant week for Collin Morikawa. Morikawa claimed the title in a dramatic fashion, becoming the first American golfer in the history of the DP World Tour to top the season-long rankings.

The European Tour group’s Golf for Good rounded up the total from approximately £121,250 to £125,000. Of course, the full amount will support UNICEF’s work as part of the COVAX Facility, and its aim of delivering three billion vaccines globally.

Supporting the UNICEF work.

UNICEF is leading the end-to-end supply of vaccines, as well as providing tests and treatments, in low-and middle-income countries. For instance, UNICEF focuses the aim to deliver three billion doses of vaccines in 2021 for frontline health workers, social workers, teachers and those at highest risk.

UNICEF

The commitment of Paul Casey with the cause.

Paul Casey, a 15-time DP World Tour winner and UNICEF USA Supporter, said: “It’s unbelievable what the European Tour group and Golf for Good have done. So much is talked about what we do on the golf course, but I don’t think enough is mentioned about what goes on for every community and country we visit.”

“In this case, it’s the global reach – partnering with UNICEF and £125,000 will go so far in assisting UNICEF’s work as part of the COVAX Facility, rolling out COVID-19 vaccines around the world. I couldn’t be more proud. Things like this make me proud of being part of the DP World Tour.”

“As a father, children are my primary focus when it comes to charity. It was World Children’s Day on Saturday during the final tournament, so I think this is very timely. You have a right as a human being to have access to certain things and children are always the most vulnerable. I tip my cap to all of those involved in getting this off the ground.”

The European Tour shows full support with the most vulnerable.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour group, said: “We are proud to have partnered with UNICEF in their 75th anniversary year, by supporting their work as part of the COVAX Facility though our ‘Every Birdie Counts’ campaign.”

“As a global tour we committed to supporting communities and worthy causes around the world. Therefore, to that end, this donation is a fitting end to our 2021 Golf for Good campaign. It will provide enough funding to help deliver 50,000 vaccinations to some of the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach nations on earth.”

“It was also fitting that the ‘Every Birdie Counts’ campaign should finish with such a flourish at an event sponsored by our new tour title partners DP World. They have been supporting UNICEF in the logistics and delivery of the vaccine globally. Our sincerest thanks to UNICEF, DP World and of course all of our players who, through their wonderful golf all season, helped make this happen.”

UNICEF is one step closer to accomplish its mission.

Steven Waugh, Interim Executive Director of the UK Committee for UNICEF said: “If we have learned anything from the coronavirus crisis, it is that our lives are interconnected. COVID-19 does not respect borders. At UNICEF, we know that if we only protect high-income countries, life will not return to normal. If COVID-19 is spreading anywhere, it’s a risk to people everywhere.”

“As part of COVAX, UNICEF is leading the biggest health and logistics operation in history to procure and deliver vaccines. A total of 3 billion vaccines around the world by the end of 2021. In order to achieve this historic mission, we need the help of our supporters and partners.”

“I would like to share my sincere thanks to everyone at the European Tour group, who have helped raised an incredible amount for UNICEF’s work around the world. Your support means that we can help deliver 50,000 vaccinations in low- and middle- income countries around the world.”

Press Release by the European Tour Group Communications Team.

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European Tour Knowledge

R&A Report Shows Golf Participation In Sweden Has Increased To 600K

New official reports highlight great golf participation growth across Europe. According to the EGA (European Golf Association) reports, there are currently 10.6 Million golfers playing the sport among The R&A’s European Affiliates and in the EGA members’ markets, a healthy increase from the 7.9 million last monitored for 2016.

Since the pandemic, the sport fans had to get used to follow their favorite sports through the screen. Teams and organizers suffered the hard consequences economically speaking because of the decreasing number of affiliates. However, golf has come out stronger, and the reason is simple – The players are outside, it is easy to keep the social distance at all times, and it reconnects you with the world after a global lockdown.

Golf Participation Growth in Sweden

Markets with a greater proportion of registered golfers include Spain and Sweden (10% independent / 90% registered). “We believe that counting independent golfers together with those who are registered as club members gives a more accurate view of the total number of golfers playing on a full-length course each year and reflects how the sport is being consumed from country to country.” – Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A.

Since 2019, Swedish golf participation increased by 54.6k golfers. Reports situate Sweden 3rd in the leaderboard of countries with the highest number of new registered golfers. Nowadays, there are 600,000 golfers in Sweden and 650 courses. Due to the rapid increment of new participants, the course demand has also grown. This is a gap to cover that could potentially pump up the National federations and Organizations to continue to expand the interest in golf among the Swedish population.

Women’s and Junior Participation – The biggest increment

Regarding women’s golf, there’s also a clear increase in Europe. Only in Sweden, the female participation increased by 27%, which translates into 129,949 new golfers. The sport of golf almost benefit from the global Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, there’s no denying that this is an unique opportunity to mediatise women’s golf and make more visible the quality among women golfers.


The Swedish are well-known for inculcating sports education in children from an early age. There’s also a reflection of that on the new reports by the R&A. Sweden leads the top of the list of European countries that has increased the number of junior participation. The junior enrolment has risen by 11%, or in other words, 61,839 new kids practice now the sport of golf. Junior participation is specially important because it represents the quarry of the future national teams.

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Fitness Knowledge Panorama Training

Is golf a sport? Belén García Franco: “Every swing is an explosive movement of the entire body.”

Physical Therapist Belén García breaks with some stereotypes on golf, and she explains why. "Every swing is an explosive movement of the entire body."

Belén García Franco is a physical therapist from Vigo, Spain, an expert in the sport of golf, and the current captain of the Galician Women’s Golf Team. She completed her Masters with honors in Manual Physiotherapy of the Locomotive Apparatus from the University of Alcalá de Henares, in Madrid. García played golf for over fifteen years until a bad hip injury stepped on her way. In 2017 she decided to put the physiotherapist gown on to work with other passionate athletes like her to improve their game off the course, and now she and her partner run their own clinic in Vigo.

Today, Golf Post has the opportunity to ask her some questions about the relationship between shooting under par and conducting a proper physical training. We are very happy to talk with you Belén, and we are ready to shed some light on the subject. 

Full Interview with physical therapist Belén García.

Golf Post: People outside of the golf field often debate whether or not golf can be considered a sport. As a former high-level player, and now as a physical therapist, what do you think of that?

Belén García: I think that golf is undoubtedly a sport. I will say more,  it requires physical and mental activity for at least 4-5 hours, which can be quite intense in addition to the technique being highly complicated. I certainly know that it demands of a general explosive movement of the whole body. Every swing is an explosive movement of the entire body.

As with many sports, the difference between amateur and professional is huge. The professional golfer must focus closely on the training of physical preparation, so they strive to achieve great athletic form. The higher the level of play, the more emphasis will be placed on this physical aspect.

Golf Post: What are the physical benefits of playing golf?

Belén García: The most positive characteristic about golf is that everyone can practice it at any age, even the elder ones, and that is why the physical benefits of golf are countless and very diverse. The joint mobility, stability, proprioception and precision are some of the physical qualities that golf provides. In addition to aerobic endurance, as it requires physical activation lasting several hours.

Golf Post: What is the most common injury among golfers?

Belén García: From my experience, the most common injury relates to the lower back, the lumbar. The torsion caused in the swing is very damaging to the intervertebral discs, since they are structures that suffer a lot with this movement and that will eventually be damaged. The younger golfers tend to hit the ball harder, so it is also more common to find injuries at their wrist and elbow joints, due to and excessive tightening of the grip or greater power in the shot.

Golf Post: Belén, you played great golf and represented your region in several occasions until you suffered a bad hip injury. Now you are playing some golf again, how was the coming back process?

Belén García: The injury just happened without giving me any heads-up, it was all of a sudden while I was playing a tournament with the Galician team in Asturias. I loved playing that tournament because I always had so much fun traveling with the team. The environment and the sport spirit was just the best. When you spend so much time practicing and playing around, your teammates also end up being friends, so being able to experience these events with them was very fun, and I was really upset that I could not do that anymore when the injured happened.

It scared me to think that I could never play golf again, but conducting the right training and taking measures was crucial to get me through it. Last year, when I started to play some golf again, I was still afraid to go through the same pain, or that it would happen again. Playing golf is a challenge itself, but for the first time, it was more alarming than appealing to me, but I knew my limits, and trusted the recovery. Sometimes, the hardest challenge in this cases is the mental factor. I was recovered and physically ready to tee up again, but it took some work until I convinced myself of so.

Golf Post: I assume that you work with all types of athletes, and you treat numerous injuries caused by overexertion. Is there any little secret to avoid those that are most likely to suffer in golf?

Belén García: Just like in any other sport, conducting a proper preventive training at the joint and muscular level is essential to largely avoid typical golf injuries in the short and long term. Many golfers tend to finish their routine with the last shot on hole 18, but I would insist in the importance of the post-round stretching exercises to release the muscular tension.

Golf Post: The dream come true of any passionate golfer is to turn pro and to live off of it. Do you think that the physical aspect makes the difference between accomplishing the goal and not doing so successfully?

Belén García: Without any doubt, it does make the difference. Nowadays, the physical training plays a crucial role in golf. Having a good physique makes the swing more consistent and more regular throughout the round, which minimizes errors. A strong body helps to have a strong mind as well.

Golf Post: Based on your extensive experience as a golfer and physiotherapist, how common is it for elite golfers to work with physios on a daily basis? At what level would you recommend starting with a physical trainer as part of their game training?

Belén García: I think that the role of physiotherapy in sport plays a fundamental role from a preventive point of view, and to accompany the right development of the swing technique. In the same way, knowing the technical and physical qualities of the athlete can determine the optimal frequency of treatment, although it is very common for every athlete to have their physiotherapist on hand throughout the competition calendar.

Physical training is recommended for all golfers regardless of their performance level, as the best way to prevent from bad habits or injuries, as well as to improve their scores. The same way the player invests the time in the driving range or the putting green to improve their game, they should also focus on the physical training (strength, mobility, flexibility, coordination…) in order to see solid results on the scorecard. I guess it depends on what the player wants to get out of golf.

Golf Post: Now that you educated us on the off the course training. Do you have any tips for when our readers tee up on the course?

Belén García: Not to stress over it, golf can result overwhelming and it takes time to make peace with it. Personally, golf and I have a love hate relationship, but there is something about it that keeps me coming back at it. It is such a special sport that contributes values and gives life to life. I do not like giving golf tips because then if it does not go the way it is supposed to, I feel terrible. To the people who is starting to get into golf, I would suggest to take a deep breathe before every shot and to bring a couple of more balls than they think are needed. Golf can be tricky, but the show must go on. And I definitely encourage every other person out there to break with the stereotype of golf as a boring sport for the elder, and try it out. They will be pleasantly surprised.

Golf Post: Firstly, we want to thank you Belén for your time. Your experience and professionalism in the field will provide our readers with a better knowledge on the topic. We very much appreciate the enthusiasm that you have shared with us today, and the hard work that you put on every day with your athletes to help them accomplish their goals. We wish you all the best, and we hope to speak again soon.

Interview conducted and edited by Elena Sinde Romero