Ernie Els clearly has been playing some golf, as evidenced by his opening 67 Thursday at the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina.
But that’s not all the Hall-of-Famer has been up to.
When the coronavirus pandemic picked up steam in April, Els threw his weight behind ClubsHELP, a non-profit foundation that connects golf clubs with local hospitals to provide support to health workers caring for COVID-19 patients.
Jack Nicklaus and former LPGA player Kris Tschetter also have offered their support for ClubsHELP.
“When my management team told me about this initiative, I was right behind it straight away,” Els said in a press release. “It’s a shining example of how people all around the world are pulling together in this crisis to help vulnerable members of society and, of course, support the frontline healthcare staff who are literally putting their lives on the line for all of us.”
ClubsHELP works when a member of a club volunteers to become “captain,” and the club adopts a local hospital. Working with a hospital representative to identify the most pressing needs at the facility, the clubs’ members, other companies and individual donors acquire and deliver needed items to the hospital. Donated items have included everything from bottled water to UV lights for sterilization.
Leaderboard | Photos | How to watch | Tee times | Updates
Els, a member of Old Palm Golf Club in Florida, has partnered with Jupiter Medical Center, which in turn is a partner of his Els for Autism Foundation. Els, 50, said he will play limited events on the PGA Tour this season after winning the Hoag Classic in March on the PGA Tour Champions.
Any club looking to help can find information or register at clubshelp.org. There are no fees for a club to participate. Sponsors of the initiative include Clif Bar, the National Club Initiative and the Golf Writers Association of America, as well as other local and national partners.
ClubsHELP touts several success stories on its website. For example, Spring Brook Country Club in New Jersey started the initiative in late March when it adopted Morristown Medical Center. Spring Brook general manager David Bachman got the idea from one of his members and her daughters, and so far the club has delivered more than 2,000 drinks, 500 meals and 1,000 energy bars to hospital workers.
“The most pressing needs for the frontline hospital workers are basic food items that can be consumed quickly, PPE supplies, UV lighting for sterilization of phones and keys, and delivery services,” Bachman said in the press release. “Anything a member may be able to offer, including transport vehicles, personnel or manufacturing capabilities, should be raised with their club and hospital captains.”
Rob Goulet, CEO of Entertainment Sports Partners and manager to Els, reached out to Bachman suggesting they turn this local program into a national campaign, and the ClubsHELP Foundation was born.
“Every community wants to support their local hospital and first responders,” Goulet said in the press release. “We know that strength in numbers – clubs and their members’ networks – could make a meaningful impact.”