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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Damon Cronshaw

Jack Newton's legacy will live on

Andrew Johns recalls his friendship with golf legend Jack Newton | Newcastle Herald | April 15, 2022
Father and Son: Clint and Jack Newton in 2018 at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic in the Hunter Valley. Picture: Marina Neil

Jack Newton's legacy will carry on after his death, with his much-heralded foundation to continue its work.

The Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation has raised more than $10 million since its inception in 1986, three years after the accident that ended the golfing legend's professional career.

The foundation's chief executive Peter Van Wegen said "we have directly helped tens of thousands of players and introduced the game to hundreds of thousands of kids".

"Jack's son Clint has taken over the chairmanship of the foundation. There's every intention to continue the organisation and everything that's associated with it," Mr Van Wegen said.

"We've just done a strategic plan that has some funds put aside for a Jack Newton legacy. We'll put together a Jack Newton junior pro-am. The celebrity classic held in December will continue.

"Everybody who has been involved with Jack is keen to continue what he put in place."

Father and Son: Clint and Jack Newton in 2018 at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic in the Hunter Valley. Picture: Marina Neil
Jack and Clint Newton in the Newcastle Knights dressing room in 2002.

The foundation's senior regional manager Mark Ingrey said many top players had "been through the Jack Newton foundation".

"Adam Scott, Cameron Smith, Hannah Green, Stephanie Kyriacou - they've all played Jack Newton events," he said.

The foundation's biggest fundraiser is the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic - known as The Jack. The likes of Bob Hawke, Layne Beachley, Wally Lewis, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Ian Botham and Brian Lara participated.

"So many celebrities and sports people were passionate about helping Jack with his vision of growing golf," Mr Ingrey said.

Mr Ingrey said the foundation presently had about 5500 juniors in its database.

"These days we get children introduced to the game at school level and encourage them to join junior clinics at their local golf club.

"We provide tournaments, including nine-hole events for young children, two-day masters events, junior state titles and the annual Jack Newton International. State teams also get selected. And we provide opportunities to play overseas."

Mr Newton believed golf was a game for young and old. He thought everyone should try it because it can lead to good things in life.

He started the foundation because he thought more needed to be done for junior golfers.

The aim was to introduce more young people to the game, nurture their skills and encourage enjoyment.

The foundation sought to establish programs for boys and girls and pathways from beginners to the elite level.

The determination that Mr Newton used to succeed at golf was applied to his foundation.

"He was absolutely passionate. He thought golf was everything, whether you played it socially or wanted to be a professional," Mr Ingrey said.

He believed golf had the capacity to turn youngsters into good people, while teaching the traits needed to be successful on the course and in life.

The game requires patience, self-discipline, focus and attention.

"If you want to be something in golf you have to put a lot of work into it, which is like everything in life," Mr Ingrey said.

Mr Van Wegen said the foundation gained a lot of exposure from young people who were part of it and became professional golfers.

But he believed the most important aspect of the foundation's work was helping young people become good citizens.

"The foundation and the games teaches kids respect, honesty and hard work," he said.

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