Anderson gets to the heart of the matter

Brian Anderson, the head PGA Professional at Brora Golf Club, near Inverness has won an automated external defibrillator (AED) as the star prize in the raffle at this year’s TGI Golf Partnership awards. The AED prize was donated by Eddie Reid, chief executive of TGI, the golf retail services group.

AEDs can save lives in the event of a person suffering a sudden cardiac arrest and The PGA and Arrythmia Alliance are supporting the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign 2014 so Brian’s prize winning was timely.

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher survived a cardiac arrest last summer thanks to the availability of an AED and early response cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) treatment. He has now written to all working PGA pros asking them to help put on events to raise funds so that each golf club in Great Britain and Ireland can have a AED.

Anderson had planned to provide Brora GC with one following his own experiences as a golf pro. He said, “I’ve known seven people die on golf courses or in golf clubs as a result of cardiac arrests during my time as a golf pro. And I also suffered a heart attack myself on the course. There wasn’t a defibrillator on hand at any of those occasions so the Bernard Gallacher campaign really struck a chord with me. As a result, I was making plans to put on some events to raise the money to pay for one for my club. Winning the one in the raffle here is great news.”

PGA pros and club captains have all been sent a letter from Bernard Gallacher inviting them to organise a fundraising competition at their respective clubs. The closing date to register a tournament is 1 March 2014. Email Caroline Holmes at info@defibssavelives.org.uk or visit www.defibssavelives.org

Photo shows from left: Eddie Reid, managing director, TGI Golf Partnership and Brian Anderson, head PGA Professional at Brora Golf Club