Members of the British Golf Industry Association (BGIA) held their annual golf day at Woburn on Tuesday, 15th April and raised around £18,000 for the Golf Foundation and its work to bring more youngsters into the game.
The sixth annual BGIA golf day was the biggest event of its kind yet, with 26 teams assembling at the superb venue of Woburn Golf Club in Bedfordshire. BGIA members invited friends and customers to take part in a team stableford competition, played in spring sunshine on the fabulous Duke’s Course.
Profits from the day and the previous evening’s dinner and charity auction go to the Golf Foundation and its work to create more junior golfers, through school and community initiatives in support of the national golf partnerships. Golf Foundation projects like ‘Community Links’ make it easier for school golfers to get into golf clubs and, once there, provide the structured learning programme the Junior Golf Passport to help them learn the technical skills and also the positive attributes of golf, such as honesty, perseverance and respect.
David Wells, BGIA chairman, said, “The need to support junior grass roots golf and grow the game is very important to all our members. This was our largest golf day so far, which is a good sign in itself, and everyone who played contributed to make this a really successful and memorable event. I’d like to thank all the sponsors and also Woburn Golf Club and its staff, who looked after us all so well for a second successive year.”
The winning team for the competition was a four-ball from MacGregor Golf, captained skilfully by Philip Morley, which pipped defending champions Golf Datatech Europe by a single shot. Also one shot back and in third place after a card playoff was the fourball from publishers Bauer Consumer Media.
There were a number of added challenges to test the players and raise funds. Golfbreaks.com and Pro Shop Europe magazine sponsored nearest the pin events, while True Temper sponsored the longest drive, and golf manufacturer Acushnet gave away 27 bottles of premium champagne to those who hit the difficult 170-yard 6th green in a single shot. This champagne challenge raised £475.
The excellent dinner was sponsored by Bauer Consumer Media, while Bauer’s Ed Beale turned auctioneer and his skill and enthusiasm helped to raise £4,200 for the Golf Foundation. Special guest Peter McEvoy OBE, former Walker Cup Captain and one of the leading amateur golfers of all time, gave a very well received after-dinner speech full of humour and insight into a career playing with the world’s greatest golfers.
Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said, “We would like to thank the BGIA and its members for their excellent efforts, all the sponsors and Woburn Golf Club for this fantastic day. The money raised will be used to give many more children the opportunity to enjoy golf and all its positive benefits, which is a very worthwhile cause for any golf lover to support.”
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org
British Golf Industry Association www.bgia.org.uk