Yorkshire’s Parnell Reilly is gathering a number of past PGA captains together for a special pro-am to raise funds for the PGA Benevolent Fund.
Reilly, a former PGA captain himself and head pro at Bradley Park until his retirement last year, has organised the pro-am at Huddersfield Golf Club, Fixby Hall.
The event will take place next year during Fixby Hall’s 125th anniversary celebrations when Reilly is club captain.
Fixby Hall has a special significance for Reilly who developed his love for the game there after starting caddying there as a 10 year old boy.
“If it wasn’t for caddying at Fixby I don’t think I would ever have got into golf,” he said.
Reilly, who captained the Association from 2007-09, has been a steadfast supporter of the PGA’s benevolent fund which helps members through difficult times.
The farewell dinner he arranged last year to mark his retirement after 33 years at Bradley Park raised £5,000 for the fund.
His latest fund-raising drive will feature 20 teams, and he added: “Ten will include former PGA captains and I’ve invited PGA pros to give their time for nothing and play in each of the others.
“All proceeds will go to the PGA Benevolent Fund which does such a great job in supporting PGA pros who have fallen on difficult times.
“The pro-am is part of Fixby’s 125th anniversary celebrations and is a unique event – we wanted to do something different and we’ve had a great response from the past captains.
“I’ve asked all the past PGA captains to wear their maroon blazers – if they can still get into them!”
Fixby has a great association with The PGA – its first pro, Sandy Herd, who won the Open in 1902, was the second ever PGA captain and another, Johnny Fallon captained the 1963 Great Britain Ryder Cup team.
Huddersfield Golf Club www.huddersfield-golf.co.uk
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