What is the On Course Foundation?
The charity has, through golf, helped more than 850 military veterans and is undertaking a significant fundraising challenge around the 150th Open
Since 2010 On Course Foundation has been supporting the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military veterans through golf, both by playing and by highlighting opportunities for employment in the game. Since its inception, the charity has helped some 850 beneficiaries and has placed 92 people in employment within the golf industry. The On Course Foundation was founded by John Simpson. A former senior vice president of
IMG, Simpson managed stars including Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman. After speaking at the national rehabilitation centre at Headley Court and meeting wounded service people, he was inspired to start On Course Foundation.
Countrywide events
The charity runs a variety of events throughout the UK. For starters, there are introductory taster days where veterans are introduced to golf or reintroduced after a time away from the game. The aim is to then move people on to core residential events where attendees spend a couple of days at a golf resort for a golf skills and employment course.
These deliver more in-depth tuition and a chance for like-minded veterans to socialise. People can sometimes feel socially isolated after moving away from the camaraderie of a military unit, so these events help them make the transition to civilian life.
The foundation helps people with physical injuries and those who are suffering mental health illnesses like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s not a revolving door and the foundation will offer lifetime support. Also on these courses, speakers from the golf industry talk about their roles, with the objective of inspiring attendees to consider the possibility of working within the golf industry.
The foundation has an ‘employment transition pathway’, with guidance from a qualified employment consultant who works with veterans to discover opportunities, facilitate work experience and find the right industry training, which the foundation will fund. The objective is to make individuals more employable within the industry.
Success stories
On Course Foundation boasts numerous success stories, not only with regards employment but also in terms of long-term golf participation and improving mental well-being.
Del Sullivan’s back was broken in an IED explosion in Afghanistan
while serving in the Royal Anglian Regiment. It resulted in 30 per cent of his spine being removed. A keen golfer, he decided his ambition was to work in the golf industry. Via the foundation’s transition pathway, he undertook various work experience placements before securing a job at Barnham Broom Golf Club as membership sales executive. He’s since been promoted to golf operations manager.
Laura O’neill served in the Royal Navy for 26 years, before being medically discharged after a breast cancer diagnosis. Despite recovering, this affected her mental health. New to golf, Laura joined On Course Foundation and has gone from strength to strength, playing regularly.
‘’I’ve met lots of new people who have become friends and learned enough about golf to hold my own on the course,” she says. “I’ve found that my own experiences have also helped me reassure others. I have also found some self-confidence to get out and try some new things. It really has been life changing.’’
Andy Stevens served for 33 years in the Royal Logistics Corps before suffering a mental health crisis, which led to his medical discharge in 2014. Through On Course Foundation he has been able to re-engage with golf and the military community. ‘‘Each event helped me slowly get back on my feet,” says Andy. “I also met other veterans with PTSD and it helped me with my understanding of this unseen injury.’’
The Open
Although it’s been 12 years since the inception of On Course Foundation, the Covid pandemic has delayed the 10th anniversary celebrations until this summer. To mark the occasion, the foundation is taking on a significant challenge – On Course to The Open. A relay team of 40 will carry a flag from Royal St George’s GC to the Old Course, arriving at the start of Open week. The R&A is supporting.
The route will take in all English and Scottish clubs to have hosted The Open. The team will also visit other clubs, covering some 1,500km in total. Relay legs will include walking, running, cycling, rowing and swimming. All participants in the two-week challenge have or have had a medical condition of some kind. On Course Foundation success stories Del, Laura and Andy will all be taking part in the challenge.
Clubs and individuals can support the challenge by raising awareness and donating on the dedicated Justgiving fundraising page. For more information, visit oncoursefoundation.com
“The objective is to make individuals more employable within the industry”