ClubsHELP Foundation, established locally, is making a national Impact

Back on March 27, members of Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown made their first delivery of sandwiches to Morristown Medical Center for doctors, nurses and hospital personnel on the front lines in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

That noble gesture from Spring Brook has turned into almost daily deliveries to Morristown Medical of everything from water and Gatorade to health bars, bagels and pizza.

The idea grew wings. From one New Jersey club, the notion has mushroomed into a national appeal to pair up country clubs with local hospitals. It is such a natural fit that golf legend Ernie Els has become the face for a new organization called “Clubshelp.org.”

Els, was drawn to the effort when his manager, Rob Goulet, reached out to Bachman after seeing the first story on Fox News on March 31. He told Bachman that he felt the idea of caring and giving could be a national cause, activated locally by clubs around the county. Goulet said he would mobilize his network to take the idea nationally, and a partnership was created.

Els is issuing a challenge to his fellow PGA professionals as well as club golfers everywhere to help in this quest. Visit the website www.clubshelp.org for the latest information.

In New Jersey, clubs like Echo Lake in Union, Beacon Hill in Atlantic Highlands, Brooklake in Florham Park and The Shore Club in Cape May Courthouse have signed up to join the campaign.

On Friday, April 10, Els posted a letter in which he stated: “Become the captain of your club, adopt a local hospital, and marshal club resources to deliver greatly needed supplies to those on the frontlines during this unprecedented international health crisis.”

His letter added “ClubsHELP, is 501(c)3 foundation created to connect clubs with hospitals in their local areas to provide critically needed support for health workers as they care for victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sense of community generated in each market has been stronger than ever. Now, this collective energy, along with club resources, are being deployed where they are needed most – at the local level.”

Said David Bachman, the general manager of Spring Brook, one of the first to foster the idea of the linkage of country clubs to hospitals, “It’s absolutely gratifying what’s going on. Country clubs and hospitals are both integral parts of a local community. Our members either work at the hospital or have children and friends who work at hospital.

“We really feel we are a trusted neighbor in the community. It’s just such a natural fit. Members were trying to do something. They were trying to help,” said Bachman, who has twice appeared on Fox News TV to speak on behalf of the campaign. He said the key part of the equation is finding the proper hospital liaison who can inform the club of the immediate needs for the hospital workers.

“We are putting the sandwiches, the water, Gatorade and health bars right in the hallways where the staff can quickly grab them and move on to their next job,” he said.

Gary Erickson, owner of Clif Bars and Company (which manufactures the famous health bars, among other products) has committed to donate 6.6 million bars of their Clif Bars and Luna Bars to the campaign. Bachman’s and Goulet’s team were insightful enough to notice the crying needs of local hospitals in New York City and Long Island. In New York, he contacted the New York Athletic Club and the University Club to come to the aid of Mount Sinai Hospital. For Long Island’s Elmhurst Hospital, Bachman contacted Deepdale Country Club. In both cases, connections have been made and thousands of Clif Bars have been delivered, plus many other items, to the hospitals.

According to Bachman, a national grid map in which clubs can locate and join up with local hospitals, will soon be posted on the clubshelp.org website. He also added that major golf organizations like the National Club Association and the PGA Tour and PGA of America are expected to join the cause.

Among the companies partnering with Clubhelp.org are Clif Bars, Membertext, American College of Emergency Physicians, Golf Writers Association of America, Arcis Golf, Concert Golf Partners and Belo and Company.

“When my management team told me about this initiative, I was right behind it straight away,” said Els. “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,” Els said in his letter.

For more information, and to donate, visit ClubsHELP.org.