A LOCAL charity that supports children and young people with disabilities, teed off its very first Charity Golf Day.
Building for the Future (BFTF)’s event at the prestigious Caversham Golf Club raised over £3,500.
Sixteen teams from across Wokingham, Reading, Berkshire and beyond gathered for an afternoon of friendly competition, starting the event with hot drinks and bacon rolls before a shotgun start at 2pm.
Players enjoyed 18 holes of golf along with on-course challenges including Best Team, Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin and Beat the Pro.
Wokingham MP Clive Jones joined the Trademark Windows team and generously sponsored The 19th Hole, as well as donating a bottle of House of Commons champagne for the Beat the Pro prize.
Further kind donations for the raffle and auction came from Sonning Golf Club, Calcot Park Golf Club, The Caversham, Easthampstead Park Golf Club, Castle Royle and a RAMS season ticket, ensuring plenty of excitement off the course too.
The winning team of the day was BDO LLP.
Speaking at the event, BFTF Fundraising Manager and organiser Jason McMahon praised the support of participants and sponsors.
He said: “We provide services and support for disabled children and young people to have a more positive future.
“With plans to move into a larger 3,000 sq ft facility at Thames Valley Park, we need to raise significant additional funds.
“Events like today are vital in helping us continue and expand our work.”
Jason also thanked Willmott Dixon, Trademark Windows, Wokingham Positive Difference, and all the businesses and individuals who took part.
He added: “We don’t receive statutory funding and we don’t charge families who visit Our House.
“Everything we do is possible thanks to the generosity of supporters.
“This event is a celebration of that support and a reminder of what we can achieve together.”
Special recognition went to Sports Photographer Paul Clark, who donated his time, and Greenhouse Graphics, who supplied all player guides and sponsorship boards free of charge.
Gary Stangoe, General Manager of The Caversham, welcomed the golfers and highlighted the world-class course conditions, while pro golfer Archie Smith—recently returned from four years competing in the US—challenged players in the Beat the Pro competition.
Organisers say the atmosphere was one of community and generosity, with 100% of participants saying they would be back next year.
For information, visit: bftf.org.uk and thecaversham.co.uk
