TGI Golf, Europe’s leading buying group for golf professionals, raised more than £1,500 for good causes through its annual golf days thanks to continued support from both its members and accredited suppliers.
The biggest brands in golf threw their weight behind the three events – held in Scotland, Ireland and England – donating thousands of pounds worth of prizes, including clubs, golf balls, apparel and tickets towatch Premiership champions Manchester United.
Greenore Golf Club, one of the oldest on the Emerald Isle, staged the Irish Golf Day in which participants raised €750 to support fellow member Charlie McGoldrick, who has been taken seriously ill and stood down from his role as Head Professional at Enniscrone Golf Club, County Sligo.
The St Andrews Hospice benefited from the generosity of golfers at the Scottish event held at West Kilbride Golf Club, where £650 was raised, while the English contingent dug deep at Handsworth Golf Club, Birmingham, to raise £505 for Help for Heroes.
Eddie Reid, TGI Golf Managing Director, said: “This year’s golf days have been some of the most successful we’ve ever staged, largely due to the generosity of our accredited suppliers who surpassed themselves with the amount of products they donated to make up the prize tables.
“These golf days are an extremely important part of the TGI Golf calendar, giving members the opportunity to come together, along with their guests and suppliers, to enjoy an informal day, share ideas and best practice, and play some outstanding golf courses.
“We like to think of TGI Golf of more than just a buying group. We are a family working together to support the on-course retailer through a number of channels, be they retail support, marketing collateral or organising informal events like the golf days.”
Lisburn Golf Club PGA Professional Stephen Hamill celebrated his second TGI event win in as many months when he triumphed at the Irish Golf Day, having already claimed the TGI Golf Overseas Team Challenge in April.
His team consisted of his guest, Noel Robinson, David Jenkins (Cleveland) and Bernard White (William Ashley), and scored 85 Stableford points to win on count back from Portadown Pro Pail Stevenson, guests Ashley Woods and Pat Meagher, and Felix Murphy (Craddockstown),
The Scottish event was just as closely fought with only one point separating the top two teams. Alastair Forrow, from Whitecraigs Golf Club, was the winning Pro, leading his team of Maureen McDevitt, Simon Chard and Neil MacRae to victory. Tom Eckford (Ranfurly Castle) and his team of Paul Morrall, Brian Doole and Craig Haggerty were the runners up.
Branston Golf Club Pro Ian Ross led his team of Steve Jackson, Chris Taylor (TGI Golf) and Murray Tonray (Cleveland) to a convincing victory at Handsworth Golf Club, winning by six points.
Mike Bradley (Notts Golf Club) and his team of Tony Smith, Michael Grimes (Wilson) and David Kinsey (Marbas) finished second.
The TGI Golf Days are just one of many events the group is staging for its members throughout the year.
Others include the TaylorMade-adidas TGI Golf Amateur Championship, Under Armour Innovation Days, The Ashworth Cup and Nike Oven Fourball Challenge.
TGI Golf http://tgigolf.com