Chiltern Centre’s 15th annual golf day raises £3,000

THE Chiltern Centre’s 15th annual golf day raised nearly £3,000.

Forty people took part in the event at Henley Golf Club, playing fourball matches in teams of women, men and mixed.

The golf was followed by a lunch, silent auction, live auction and presentation of prizes.

Over the past 15 years, the golf day has raised more than £55,000 for the centre in Chilterns End Close, which offers care for young adults with disabilities.

David Haddock, captain of the golf club and secretary and trustee of the charity, said: “These golf days need to happen just to help us maintain the costs of running the centre.

“We need to raise about £200,000 a year, so the golfers are part of the important fundraising effort that helps us exist. There are people here who have come year after year to support the charity and there are some people who are new this year. You don’t have to convince golfers too much to come and enjoy a good round of golf, especially if it is for a good cause.”

Mr Haddock, who was in a fourball match with Badgemore Park Golf Club men’s captain Les Hines, said his game on the day was “not much to write home about”.

Mr Hines was pleased to have ended on a par.

Among the players was Mike Sweeney, president of Henley Royal Regatta, who said: “We are newbies this year and it had been a great day out. We were attracted to the event as it was a charity day.”

“As we played in a fourball, we were all a bit up and down but we had fun trying a different course.”

The winning team men’s team was Chris Shaw, Terry Elton, Ashley Hull and Kevin Penfold.

The winning ladies’ team was Kathy Hooper, Alison Weir, Mary Wingrove and Nikki Allen.

The winning mixed team was Alan Wilson, Ian Heggie, Suzanne Coleman and Steve Bennett.

Jane Tavinor won the ladies’ longest drive and Alan Wilson won the men’s longest drive. Nearest to the pin went to Jane Atkin and Michael Newton.

The prizes included two tickets to next year’s Henley Festival, an overnight stay and dinner at the Hurley House Hotel and a tour for eight of the Henley Gin Distillery.

Other sponsors including Towergate insurance, La Medusa hair studio, Hundred Hills wines and Laurence Menswear.

Emma Lerche-Thomsen, a Chiltern Centre fundraiser, said “Thanks to all the players and to Henley Golf Club for making it a very special day.”