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Golfer 'eternally grateful' for charity's help

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter
BBC Josef has swung his golf club on a green with others playing the background and to the left there is a beach and seaside. Josef is wearing white shoes, cream shorts and t-shirt and a white cap.BBC
Josef Hacker has benefited from the Harry Vardon Trust

A Jersey amateur golfer says he is "eternally grateful" for a charity's support after it helped him compete off-island.

Josef Hacker, 25, was helped by the Harry Vardon Trust, a charity that helps cover some of the costs for young players to travel to higher level competitions.

It wants to encourage more young people to play the sport and help more people from any background.

Hacker went on to win the Hampshire County Championship in 2021 after the charity's support. He is now one of Jersey's leading male golfers and won gold in the Island Games in Guernsey.

Josef smiles at the camera with his arms behind his back. There's a beach and seaside in the background along with Gorey Castle.
The 25-year-old hopes more young golfers will look to the trust for support

He said it "was just incredible" and being able to travel off-island had "made a profound difference to my game".

Hacker added: "They've basically given me the opportunity to take the next step and without their support I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now."

Anabelle Lucas-Villar smiles at the camera as she wears a pink skirt and white sleeveless top and a white cap. Behind her is a golf course.
Anabelle Lucas-Villar has been playing golf since she was six years old

Anabelle Lucas-Villar, 18, has also benefited from the support of the trust.

She said "it's definitely helped me get that experience" off-island because "it's so costly getting off Jersey to play golf".

"There's definitely an increase in juniors playing and it will be exciting to see what these players can do in a few years with the trust's support," Lucas-Villar added.

Jersey Golf named her Ladies & Junior Player of the Year last year after achievements like winning the Junior Island Championship.

Darren Attwood looks at the camera as he sits in a chair with his arms on the arms of the chair and his desk is next to him. He's wearing a blue t-shirt and has grey slicked-back hair.
Darren Attwood from the charity hopes more young people will give the sport a go

Darren Attwood is a trustee at the charity, which was founded in 1984 following an exhibition match involving US golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Attwood said golf was "like no other sport" and it gave "life skills" to young people, teaching them patience and dedication.

He added: "To see these guys get to that level of golf and we know the trust has helped them get there is really rewarding."

The charity was started to help find the next big star from Jersey, after islander Harry Vardon won The Open six times as well as winning the US Open once.

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