Thursday 9th July 2015 saw twelve wounded soldiers take on twelve golf industry members in a better ball matchplay tournament held at Ping’s Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire.
John Clark, Managing Director of Ping Europe said “It was a great honour to be able to host the annual Battle Back match against members of the golf industry at our club”.
The Battle Back team, made up of servicemen who were badly injured whist serving their country, use the game of golf as a form of rehabilitation to get back into normal active lifestyles. Opportunities for the 160+ members of Battle Back Golf significantly increased 6 years ago when a group of golf industry leaders climbed the three highest peaks in England, Scotland, and Wales within 24 hours (The 3 Peaks Challenge) raising £30,000 for the Battle Back Golf programme. This group, who became known as the “Battle Packers”, now meet annually to compete for the Battle Packers Trophy against a Battle Back team of injured service personnel.
The first three matches saw the Battle Packers take a 3-0 lead, however, the success of the programme became evident as the Battle Backers won the next 2.
This year’s competition was fiercely contested at Gainsborough Golf Club and despite the golf industry team including 7 single-figure golfers, the wounded servicemen came out on top for the third year in a row with a fantastic 4-2 victory, leaving the series now tied at 3-3.
“This annual fixture is considered as one of the Battle Back Golf majors and is therefore keenly contested. PING’s Gainsborough facilities provided an outstanding venue for the event which has got to have been the most competitive to date. Our sincerest thanks go to the members of the golf industry for their exceptional support and their unerring commitment to the wounded, injured and sick Service community” said Lt Col Tristan Crew MBE and President of Battle Back Golf.
“The golf industry would like to wish the Battle Back Golf Team all the very best for their upcoming visit to America in September when they compete in a ‘Ryder Cup’ style competition against the American Wounded Warriors” said Battle Pack leader, Kevin Hart of Club Car.
Battle Back Golf http://www.golf4heroes.com/battleback
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