Prominent Irish sports stars and business leaders were among the guests welcomed to Burhill Golf Club for the inaugural ‘Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering,’ in association with Golf Ireland and hosted by Lord Iveagh.
Set to become an annual event, former world featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan and members of the London Irish rugby team joined 72 competitors for the 18-hole competition staged on the New Course at Burhill, a regular venue for the PGA EuroPro Tour.
Burhill Golf Club – part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading golf course owner and operator – is privately owned by Lord Iveagh and members of the Guinness family. The clubhouse, a Georgian mansion, and the estate was acquired by Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, the future 1st Earl of Iveagh, in 1885 and has been in the family’s ownership ever since. Burhill Golf Club opened in 1907.
Competing in teams of four, the winners of the Stableford competition with a betterball total of 81 points were team Citi FX, made up of Peter Wilson, Chris Callan, Bernhard Sinniah and Tom Gallagher.
Following the golf, guests were invited to a Guinness and Oyster lunch and networking reception in the WalledGarden at Burhill, where they were entertained by acoustic duo The Luck, featuring singing siblings Max and Esmay Luck.
A prize giving and charity raffle raised more than £1,800 for The Iveagh Trust, which helps provide affordable housing in and around Dublin, as well as a hostel for homeless men.
Lord Iveagh said: “The charity aspect of the day is of particular importance to me because The Iveagh Trust does so much great work in alleviating homelessness. This event has made a significant contribution towards a great cause – only possible though the support of our kind sponsors and guests.”
Gene Clayton, chief executive of The Iveagh Trust, explained how the funds would be used: “Our hostel tracks very close to its’ full capacity, and this donation will be used to help to enhance the facilities available to support the homeless back to personal independence.”
Colin Mayes, BGL chief executive, said: “With its links to Ireland through Lord Iveagh and the Guinness family, Burhill Golf Club is the natural home for this event and I look forward to welcoming new and returning ‘gatherers’ to the 2014 edition.”
Grant Muskett, director of Facilitate Marketing Ltd, owner and organiser of the ‘Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering’, said: “I’d like to thank each of the sponsors and, in particular, the headline sponsor Golf Ireland, who have been very supportive from the outset. The demand for this event was exceptional so no surprise it was sold out within one week.
“The golf, combined with a fabulous Guinness & Oyster Lunch and networking reception in the plush surroundings of the club’s walled garden, made for the perfect venue. There was also the added bonus of Guinness already being in the DNA of the club.
“The feedback has been overwhelming and planning for the 2014 event is already under way. So if anyone wishes to take part next year, they will need to get in touch.”
The inaugural Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering was sponsored by Golf Ireland with additional support from Burhill Golf Club, Iveagh Ltd, Guinness, Cashel Blue, Wright Brothers, Elveden Estate and Pol Roger.
David Boyce, deputy director Great Britain at Tourism Ireland, said: “Golf plays a key role in our international tourism strategy and with over 400 golf courses on the island plus one third of the world’s links courses, there has never been a better time to play in Ireland.”
To enquire about the 2014 Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering, email: grant@facilitateltd.com
Burhill Golf Club www.burhillgolf-club.co.uk