Golf equipment collected for injured Ukrainians

Andrew Lynch said his organisation had been approached by the Ukraine Golf Federation

Golf enthusiasts have been invited to donate any new or used golf equipment which will then be sent to Ukraine.

Andrew Lynch, head of sustainability at the DP World Tour, said the equipment would be collected at The Belfrey, in the West Midlands, this weekend which is playing host to the Betfred British Masters.

The organisation was approached by the Ukraine Golf Federation, he said, as many injured civilians and soldiers in the country were turning to the sport.

"We saw this as a tremendous opportunity to be able to ask our fans, our ticket-holders, our staff and equipment manufacturers if they would be able to donate anything," he explained.

The equipment is being collected during the Betfred British Masters at The Belfrey

Tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers have been injured since the start of the war in Ukraine, he said.

Golf clubs in Kyiv and Lviv have been welcoming groups of patients after amputations and prosthetic treatment, with many of them trying the sport for the first time.

"They have a huge lack of equipment," he said, so the federation asked if we could help.

A shipping container had been set up in the Sutton Coldfield venue's car park for equipment to be collected, before it is shipped to Ukraine.

"We're very excited, we've had some great donations," said Mr Lynch.

"We feel an obligation to use our platform to be able to promote things like this.

"It's a very heart-warming initiative, especially when you speak to people from the federation and hear how they've personally been affected by the conflict. "