Charity Golf Day 2010 a big success

Another good day was had by all at United Response’s annual charity golf day, held this year in July in the leafy surrounds of Richmond Park Golf Club. Determined not to be delayed by the traffic on the way in, the staff team began arriving from shortly before 7am to make sure that everything was set up properly for the day. Ably supported by the excellent club staff team, we were ready for the first golfer’s arrival and they enjoyed their coffee and bacon rolls in the magnificent cube room, a feature of the grade-1 listed building which is used as the clubhouse.

Everyone successfully registered, starter packs given out and ‘mulligan’ balloons sold (for those less than perfect shots) the golfers made their way to their respective tees for an 8.30am shotgun start. Golfers had the pleasure of meeting our host for the day and United Response Vice President Steve Rider on the par 3 eighth green, which was our ‘beat the pro’ hole. Club pro Steve Burridge had a few wayward shots early on but soon steadied himself and ensured that we bought some golf balls and champagne back with us, rather than giving them all away as prizes.

Out on the course the scoring was going well and we were soon back in the clubhouse for a well deserved pre-lunch drink while the scores were tallied up. At lunch, Steve Rider performed the Master of Ceremonies duties with his customary aplomb and we rattled through a game of ‘heads and tails’, a silent auction and a live auction between the three course lunch. The highlight of the day was when Sir Nick Faldo, 6-time Major winner took questions from the floor with a mixture of insight into the game of golf and some good stories from his own career.

Even those with a nice swing and a suspiciously high handicap were no match for the locals when it came to handing out the prizes! Richmond Park Golf Club members’ teams walked away with first and second prizes and it goes to show that there are few substitutes to knowing your way around the course when it comes to shooting a good round.

Fundraising profits came to more than £12,000 and we are already looking forward to next year. If your company can help us to raise even more money in 2011 by sponsoring all or part of the day please contact us. If you’d like to play next year, as an individual or in a time please let us know too. In either case please email Alex Dunwoody.

Joel Voysey, head of fundraising.