World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els is helping a nationwide initiative by golf course owners and operators to help hospitals and medical facilities in their areas during the current coronavirus pandemic.
It began in late March when David Bachman, manager of the Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown, N.J., appeared on the “Fox and Friends” morning TV show to talk about how his club connected members with local hospitals to provide supplies through ClubsHELP, the charity he organized.
The items range from modest to critically needed. Bachman’s members contributed bottled water, sports drinks, meals, UV lights for sterilization and moisture-absorbing T-shirts to wear under PPE gear.
Els issued a challenge to friends and fellow sports stars, pleading for support for the charity.
“They need our help,” Els said in his challenge. “As golf clubs and golf players, we have a lot of time on our hands right now. I know we want to be out there, but from whatever you can gather to help people on the front lines, from food to supplies to anything you guys can come up with, we need to go out there and help these people and these hospitals that are fighting for our lives.”
Members also personally delivered food from the club’s kitchen or their own businesses and homes.
After the show, more than 60 clubs nationwide signed up.
@ClubsHELP connects golf clubs to local hospitals to support frontline workers fighting Covid-19. Friends, sports stars, celebrities, I challenge you to post your video. Thanks @KrisTschetter for your contribution. Visit https://t.co/SsoV0d3Fgx or text CLUBSHELP to 71441. pic.twitter.com/exPquTxU1u
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) April 16, 2020
Rob Goulet, Els’ manager, watched the show and told his client about it. On April 10, Els appeared on “Fox and Friends” to promote the initiative, and the list has now grown to more than 100.
There are eight clubs in Florida that signed on through the website at clubshelp.org, all in south Florida. Clubs can use the website to “adopt” a local hospital.
Two national golf club groups, the National Club Association and Club Corp, have joined ClubsHELP.
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