Burhill Golf Club in Surrey is gearing up to host the London leg of the ‘Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering 2019’ when the world series heads to the UK in June this year.
A premium, yet fun golf event, with an emphasis on networking, the annual Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering was established in 2013 by Grant Muskett and Lord Iveagh – a descendant of Guinness inventor Arthur Guinness – who were keen to revamp the traditional model of corporate golf days.
Initially formed as a stand-alone event which took place each year between 2013-16 at Burhill Golf Club, the GGOG world series was established in 2017 as the schedule expanded to include gatherings at selected venues around the world.
Established by the Guinness family in 1907 on the estate of a grand Georgian mansion, Burhill Golf Club boasts a rich heritage with two celebrated championship courses and annually hosts a regional stage of The Open Qualifying Series.
Commenting on the event, Muskett said: “It’s great to be returning to the Guinness family’s golfing home again for the seventh year running. It’s an opportunity to mix with like-minded people whilst enjoying great golf and Irish hospitality at it’s very best.”
The series raises awareness and funds for The Iveagh Trust, which was set up more than 125 years ago by the Guinness family to provide affordable rented housing and accommodation for people on low incomes in the Dublin City area.
With the event growing in popularity year on year, the series returns to Burhill on Thursday, June 20, and the day will feature a fourball betterball stableford competition (with Guinness and oysters on the course), as well as a Guinness and oyster Festival dinner, brunch, networking and prize giving.
An invitation-only gathering, entry costs £1,500 per team of four, and with levels of repeat attendance expected to be high once again, the event is expected to sell-out.
This year the world series has expanded to include the inaugural Dublin leg at Portmarnock Golf Club on the July 4.
“Home to the Guinness Brewery at St. James’s Gate and headquarters of The Iveagh Trust, Lord Iveagh and I are thrilled to be bringing GGOG to Dublin for the first time,” continued Muskett “It’s a prestigious venue and the close proximity to the birthplace of Guinness and the Iveagh Trust will make it an event to remember.”
Explaining the roots of the GGOG, Muskett highlighted some of the networking benefits. “Corporate golf days have become stale and sterile. Plus, many people, given the economic conditions, have found it harder to attend golf days, and, in general, to justify attendance,” he said. “Hence, we wanted to polish the old model and enhance the offering by targeting senior executives and high net worth individuals, with a focus on less being more and with b2b networking at the centre. With more than 50 per cent repeat attendees each year, and clients now wishing to attend other gatherings around the world, the World Series speaks for itself.”
For more details about the Golf, Guinness & Oyster Gathering, email enquiries@ggog.golf.