Elmwood College’s golf club manager, Andrew Mellon, accepts a cheque for $80,000 courtesy of Toro’s Giving Program from the company’s senior marketing manager of commercial products, Barry Beckett (centre), and director of marketing, commercial and irrigation products, Brad Hamilton (right), both international business.

The Toro Company recently presented internationally recognised golf studies Centre of Excellence Elmwood College with a cheque for $80,000 (approximately £40,000) courtesy of its Giving Program.

Part of the company’s ongoing commitment to benefiting education, the environment, the arts, and health and human services, the donation was made to the college, which is located close to St Andrews Golf Club in Fife, Scotland, at the recent BTME trade exhibition in Harrogate. The Toro Company’s Brad Hamilton, director of marketing, commercial and irrigation products, and Barry Beckett, senior marketing manager of commercial products, both international business, jetted in from the company’s HQ in the States to present the cheque to Elmwood’s golf course manager, Andrew Mellon, who accepted the funding on behalf of the college.

Thanks to the Giving Program, Elmwood will now be able to enhance its online and distance learning options, aiding golf students across Europe and as far afield as China. As Carol Borthwick, the college’s director of golf and international affairs, explains: “This new development will enable us to develop our expertise in web and graphics design, taking the course materials to a whole new level of quality while helping to realise the college’s vision to be a world-class Centre of Excellence for golf education. This is a fantastic opportunity for both Elmwood and Toro to continue to lead and develop new initiatives that will benefit the whole industry. We are very grateful for the support and assistance The Toro Company has given Elmwood over the years.”

Stacy Bogart, director of the Giving Program, adds: “Elmwood is an international leader in educating students in the turf industry. We are proud to support this innovative programme, which will provide a diverse group of future greenkeepers from across the world with access to high-quality turf education.”