Can you do your bit to support those in need?

Chesterfield course manager Nick Miles

BIGGA’s annual charity day returns for 2019, with all the proceeds from the fun day of golf helping support association members who encounter hardships.

Chesterfield Golf Club in Derbyshire will be hosting the BIGGA Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday 21 August.

BIGGA Golf Partners Rigby Taylor will be sponsoring the event and Chesterfield Course Manager Nick Miles said he was inspired to get involved after taking part in the 2018 event, held at Penn.

Nick said: “The Benevolent Fund has the potential to be so important for members of our association and it can provide much‑needed assistance if things do go wrong in your personal and professional life and so I wanted to do my part to support the charity.

“I played at Penn in 2018 and it was such a fantastic day that I offered to host this year’s event immediately afterwards.

“Chesterfield is a beautiful course with great views and I’m certain that anyone who plays will have a fantastic day, in addition to doing their bit to support this incredibly‑important charity that supports those in need in our profession.”

The charity golf tournament is a fun day where things aren’t taken too seriously. With a single tee start from 10am, there will be a long putt competition and a two‑course meal following play. The cost is just £160 per team of four and there will also be a raffle, with all the proceeds going to the BIGGA Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund.

You can download an application form by clicking on this link.

 

Club captains choose Benevolent Fund

BIGGA was delighted to hear that two golf clubs have selected the Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund as their captain’s charities for 2019.

Mal Mitchell, who hosted the first‑ever charity golf day in support of the fund in 2017, will continue his fundraising efforts in his role as captain at Patshull Park.

Ben Cartwright has also chosen to support BIGGA’s charity during his year as captain at Wilmslow, which hosted the English Women’s Amateur Championship in 2018.

Ben spoke of his admiration and desire to support greenkeepers when he said: “Given the lasting effects for many clubs of last year’s blistering summer, Wilmslow’s greens, tees and fairways have, due to our fantastic greenstaff, remained in fabulous condition. And if you don’t believe me, just ask Tommy Fleetwood after he played here in December!”

To mark the incredible gesture by Ben, BIGGA member Sean Sullivan CGCS of The Briarwood in Montana has donated a custom‑made ball washer for use at Wilmslow during 2019.