The DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal will be boosted by around £40,000 after the Leaderboard Group of golf courses offered free golf to fundraisers.

The group has a fine track record with fundraising and recently donated almost £30,000 for the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

All four courses within the group - Chart Hills (Kent), The Oxfordshire, Dale Hill (Sussex) and Sandford Springs (Hampshire) - are already planning fundraising golf days which they anticipate will raise £20,000.

But the group's owners, Paul and Jennifer Gibbons, have decided to go a step further in order to raise even more funds.

Leaderboard golf courses are to give up two days a week, during February, absolutely free of green fees to any organisation wishing to hold a golf day to raise funds for DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal.

Gibbons said:

"This is a unique tragedy which has pulled at the heartstrings of everybody on the planet.

"Everybody wants to help in some way or other and we are fortunate in that we can offer a first-class facility for the use of active fundraisers, by way of a small contribution.

It is an opportunity to appreciate what we take for granted while helping those less fortunate; an opportunity to play golf and dine in fine surroundings while raising money for a hugely worthwhile cause.

I'm hoping many organisations will take us up on the offer."Any Welsh organisations out there interested in doing just that should contact any of the following clubs:

* The Oxfordshire - tel: 01844 278300 - www.theoxfordshiregolfclub.com * Sandford Springs - tel: 01635 296800 - www.sandfordspringsgolf.co.uk * Chart Hills - tel: 01580 292222 - www.charthills.co.uk * Dale Hill - tel: 01580 200112 - www.dalehill.co.uk

Or to obtain more information about any of the Leaderboard courses contact Pete Richardson, Dave Bowers or Lee Todd on 08700 330 550 or 07786 238920.