Make New Friends, Play More Golf
The online social networking community for golfers held its annual TSG OPEN Golf Day Championship at Bletchingley Golf Club in Surrey on 5th July 2014.
The day was attended by over 60+ able-bodied and disabled golfers from all over the South East of England and from as far away as Portugal and Lithuania in aid of BALASA Golf – The Charity Promoting Disabilities For ALL Golfers
Now in its fourth year, the now much coveted Halliwell Cup (donated by Stroke Victim Ian Halliwell) was won by Weybridge & Surrey based TSG member David Holmes, with the Ladies Trophy retained by Horley & Surrey based golfer Virginija Zlabiene.
£5 of each player’s entry fee was donated to BALASA, resulting in over £1k raised for the charity. The money will go toward providing buggies for disabled golfers at their UK and international events.
The day began with the usual briefing and course orientation and the individual Stableford competition.
There was a Yellow Ball event, Longest Drive, 2 x Nearest Pins, Beat The Pro, a Putting Comp and a Team Event.
The event was sponsored by The London Golf Show and GolfGear247.co.uk
There were also more donations to the cause from the likes of Muswell Hill (London), Warley Park GC (Essex), Royal Blackheath GC & Westerham GC (Kent), Pine Ridge GC & Woldingham GC (Surrey).
All ‘TSG Preferred Courses’ and raffle prizes were donated by The Social Golfer team.
Second Place – Ron Jackman – 34 pts (on countback)
Third Place – Richard Elkington 34 Pts (on countback)
Second Place – Selma Hussien – 33 pts
Nearest Pin – Tim Joy
Nearest Pin 2nd shot – Barry Hill
Straightest Drive – Steve Ramsay
Putting Champion – Matt Sutton
Yellow Ball Comp – Group 10-3: Frank Knott, Roger Ireland & Des Burnett
Team Event – Group 10-4: Steve Duffy, Virginja Zlabiene, Selma Hussien & Gary Cartlidge
The day’s event continued into the early evening with a dinner and raffle.
And we are very grateful to Alan Haywood and Stephen Slater for their help.
Of course, we must also thank Anna Guss and Clare Mistry for their wonderful donation of a day with them at Wentworth, this alone raised £200.
Ian Mullins, Managing Director of The Social Golfer said “The event is now well established and whilst it wasn’t intended, Bletchingley is fast becoming the Augusta of The Social Golfer OPEN. As always we were hugely impressed with the way the club supported the event. It is key that we do we can to raise the profile of disabled golfers and this is the TSGers doing their little bit for the cause. BALASA is very close to our hearts and they are an example to anyone with a disability to get out and play!”
Richard Saunders, Chairman of BALASA said “The Social Golfer members are incredibly generous not to mention good-humoured. What they have done for us in raising our profile is fantastic and we are so grateful. With this kind of support we can continue to pursue our goal of making golf a Paralympic sport by 2024. What a wonderful day and superb bunch of golfers – we thank The Social Golfers for their generosity!”
