Golf | Rhino Whisky in official partnership with Birdies 4 Rhinos
Rhino Whisky is proud to announce its official partnership with Birdies 4 Rhinos - a fundraising initiative supported by the professional golf community where participating players donate money for every birdie they make throughout the season.
Birdies 4 Rhinos was initiated and founded by professional players, Justin Walters, and Dean Burmester; both are passionate about the conservation of African wildlife. Residing in South Africa, they share a concern for the survival of the Rhino and want to help prevent the extinction of the indigenous species, where possible, to be enjoyed for generations to come. This comes off the back of a great win, as Burmester made six birdies in a bogey-free round to finish on an 18 under and winner of this year’s Joburg Open. Good news for the non-profit organisation!
To date, there are 21 participants and growing and includes the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Edoardo Molinari, Richard Bland, Nicole Garcia, Stacy Bregman, to name a few. Last season, participants of Birdies 4 Rhinos managed to raise over R500,000 and this year they hope to exceed it. Justin and Dean have invited more players to join them in raising money for this great cause, which is currently donated to the Connected Conservation Foundation. Burmester comments, “Justin and I wanted to give back and do our bit to save these great animals so that future generations – our children - will be able to enjoy these amazing creatures for years to come. By conserving animals for our children and future generations, we secure the natural heritage of our planet, promote sustainability, and provide a foundation for a thriving and resilient future for both humans and wildlife. Birdies 4 Rhinos is our commitment to protect and pass on a healthy and vibrant world to the generations to come.” He continues, “The concept of donating winnings whilst achieving a great score of one under par, feels like a win-win, and what sportsman could say no to that?”. To add to this, Walters highlights that, “the conservation of Rhinos is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, sustaining healthy ecosystems, preserving cultural heritage, and ensuring the long-term survival of megafauna. It is an essential component of global conservation efforts and reflects our commitment to protect and coexist with Earth's diverse wildlife.”
Rhino Whisky is a premium Single Malt Scotch, distilled and double cask matured in the Speyside region of Scotland, however the brand is owned and distributed by two South African entrepreneurs, Gerrit Wagener and Brin Kushner, who too, share a passion for conservation. Supporting Birdies 4 Rhinos made complete sense and is a natural ‘fit’ with the brand ethos.
Co-founder, Gerrit Wagener has an innate love of the Bushveld, its vast open plains and majestic animals was ingrained at an early age. After a corporate career in financial services, Rhino Whisky has given him the opportunity to connect with his early roots and give back to Africa. Business partner, Brin Kushner started his career as a wildlife filmmaker in South Africa. He is a FGASA (Field Guides Association of South Africa) qualified Ranger/Nature guide, and still actively works in the film industry, but divides his time behind the camera escaping to the Bush to photograph wildlife and immerse himself in conservation projects.
When the Rhino whisky launched, its mission and vision from the offset was to support the Rhino Orphanage, based in Limpopo South Africa. Gerrit and Brin are devoted to raise funds by donating a generous portion of sales of each bottle of Rhino whisky to the Rhino orphanage which is dedicated to raising baby Rhino’s orphaned by poachers throughout Africa. When investigating ways to amplify their own fundraising efforts, founders of Rhino Whisky - avid golf enthusiasts themselves - were thrilled to explore synergies with Birdies 4 Rhinos.
In a joint statement, both organisations now invite the public and other professionals to join in on raising money for this initiative by donating directly to the Rhino Orphanage OR to Connected Conservation Foundation.
Together, their plea is simple, “Please help us save our Rhinos before it is too late”. For more information, go to: https://www.birdies4rhinos.com/ https://www.rwhisky.com/ Connected Conservation Foundation https://therhinoorphanage.org
