Worthing Golf Day Raises £9,430

Last Thursday (23 September), a golf day in Worthing which raised £9,430 for disabled veterans was a great success.

Nineteen teams of four took part in the fundraising event at Worthing Golf Club to help raise vital funds for Worthing-based charity, Care for Veterans.

The funds will support the charity to provide care and rehabilitation to physically disabled veterans and their immediate families. Many of the current residents in the 60-bed facility have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) or a degenerative neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s.

Kindly sponsored by James Ross Jewellers and Sussex County Business Clubs, the tournament involved teams playing 18 holes on the Vardon Course.

A meal in the Clubhouse included winner presentations by Ivor Lane, Worthing Golf Club Captain, who made a surprise announcement that the Club was donating £500 of the entrant fees back to the charity. The winning team was ETI Perky Putters (Nick Dumbleton, Paul Froome, David Garter and Geoff Raynsford) with 89, winning on a countback of 45. Just missing out on first place, the runners up were a team from AG Morriss Funeral Services (Aaran Morriss, Stewart Davis, Mark Knee and Daniel Ross) with 89, with a countback of 42.

Later in the day, Rupert Toovey from Toovey’s Antique and Fine Art Auctioneers donated his time and expertise to host the auction. Auction prizes were donated by Worthing Golf Club, Plumpton Racecourse, James Ross Jewellers, West Sussex Golf Club, The Dorchester, and John Dale Aldhurst Farm.

Most of the teams took part in a putting competition where golfers could win a wide range of different bottles, from beer to whiskey. On the 14^th hole, New Wave Golf ran a competition where a hole in one could win a holiday, as well as other prizes for getting onto the green in one shot. ‘Nearest the Pin’ winners were Jamie Pierce, Damian Pulford, Peter Brice and Gary Murray.

Several local businesses supported the event by entering a team, including IAL Professional Services, Fizz Creations, TM Property Developments, Carpenter Box, AG Morriss Funeral Services, Michael Jones & Co., Sussex Transport, BNI Pavilion, Barners & Amner, ETI, Invictus Wealth Consultants, and Worthing Golf Club.

Christine Gillott, Senior Fundraiser at Care for Veterans, said: “It is so good to be able to get back to hosting events, and getting our local businesses and supporters together. We are very proud to be the chosen charity of Worthing Golf Club for both 2020 and 2021, so hosting the event at Worthing Golf Club made it a very special day. We were really pleased to have three teams from Worthing Golf Club taking part.

“The amount raised is simply fantastic and will support the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the disabled veterans in our care.”

Since 1919, Care for Veterans has provided the highest possible standard of care and rehabilitation to disabled ex-Service personnel and their families. It provides services such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy to help rehabilitate those who live there to live more independent lives. As an independent provider, the charity can fill the gaps often found between healthcare and social services.

The charity receives no regular Government funding and must raise over £1.5 million each year to maintain its nursing and rehabilitation services for ex-Service personnel.

For more information about Care for Veterans, visit www.careforveterans.org.uk, call 01903 213458 or email [email protected].