MANY people find it easy to take a somewhat jaundiced view with regard to the astronomic earnings in certain sports.

But I tend to make the case for the defence when it comes to golfers, as there is in effect no such thing as a weekly or monthly salary.

If golfers play badly, they get paid not a penny or cent. If they play well, they get rewarded handsomely.

It may perhaps be a slight over-simplification of the truth, given the vast amounts earned through endorsements, but still I would argue that off-course earnings are directly in proportion to on-course performance.

I don't see why anyone should have a problem with that. And besides, golfers tend to be good at giving back.

I was reminded of this when I recently read a feature on a fund-raising initiative for the St Jude Children's Research Hospital based in Memphis, Tennessee.

St Jude is one of the world's foremost paediatric cancer research centres and has helped many children with terminal illnesses and their families since it was founded in 1962.

It is unlike any other paediatric treatment and research facility - discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other dreadful diseases.

Anyway, this particular fund-raising initiative is called Eagles for St Jude and was actually set up by Stanford Financial Group during its sponsorship of the Stanford St Jude Championship on the PGA Tour.

For every eagle made on the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour, Stanford donates US$1,000 ($1,500) to the hospital. This amounted to more than US$1m in 2007.

But on top of this, some players have also taken it upon themselves to make their own personal donations.

Vijay Singh pledges US$5,000 for every eagle he makes on the PGA Tour. That came to US$50,000 in 2007 and US$30,000 last year.

'Obviously I have my own motivation to make as many eagles as possible,' said Vijay.

'But now there's an even greater reward when I do. This lets me share that good feeling and turn it into something truly lasting and meaningful.'

Wonderful place

Vijay visited the St Jude Children's Hospital last year and spent a day with the kids.

'I've been to a lot of places in the world and seen a lot of things, but this has probably been the most wonderful place,' he said.

Camilo Villegas has also committed his own cash to the programme, pledging US$3,000 for every eagle he makes.

Given the cavalier way Villegas plays the game, this is likely to generate another substantial sum for the St Jude coffers.

'I can't think of a better motivation to play well than to know you're helping the kids at St Jude,' said Villegas.

LPGA pro Morgan Pressel has also signed up to make a donation and there is every chance this thing could gather even more momentum and have other players jumping on board, so to speak.

This is just one example of the numerous fundraising activities involving golf's top stars who wish to do something tangible and meaningful to those catastrophically less fortunate than themselves.

Ernie Els set up his foundation with the simple objective to give underprivileged kids in South Africa a better start in life - to help them make something of themselves through a good education and access to the game of golf.

It is a wonderful programme and in no time has groomed the likes of Charl Schwartzel for the European Tour and has on its books some of the highest-ranked junior girls and boys in the country.

Tiger Woods also has his own junior foundation and each year, he and Els put together a team of youngsters to play against one another in a challenge match called the Friendship Cup.

It's an amazing experience for the kids - they get to meet their heroes, they forge new friendships and take away special memories that will last a lifetime.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell also has his own charitable foundation, inspiring and motivating young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nick Faldo's Junior Series has been a huge success, too, producing winners such as Nick Dougherty.

In these bleak times, it does no harm that we should remind ourselves of the amazing work being done, especially as it often doesn't get the media column inches it deserves.

I find it genuinely heart-warming stuff.

• Steve Newell is an experienced golf writer who has worked with many of the world's leading players and teachers, and has written several books on golf. He now works primarily for top golfer Ernie Els.