Charity Golf Day 2024

The region's golfers chip in to raise over £5000 for charity

The Penrith Rotary held their annual fundraising Charity Golf Competition at Penrith Golf Club on Friday 26^th July 2024. Some 144 golfers from all over the North of England and the South of Scotland competed for the honours in what was a hotly contested competition with only 5 points separating the top 5 teams. The weather was good with an early threat of rain giving way to sunshine, and the course was in excellent condition, prompting several players to express their appreciation of the work done by the green keeper and his staff. All in all it was a most enjoyable day for all those participating.

Fourteen of our fellow Golf Clubs donated the complimentary 4-ball vouchers to play at their courses, and these were used as very much appreciated competition prizes. In addition, there were many local sponsors who supported the event with cash, excellent prizes for the Tombola and the on-course refreshments. Nilfisk Ltd, the main sponsor, donated cash and a pressure washer which was raffled separately to raise money for the Salvation Army (Penrith) Food Bank.

In the end it was a team from Penrith called “The Weapons of Grass Destruction” who were the outright winners with 100 points, but teams from Barnard Castle Rotary Club and Kerr Investments  with 99 and 98 points respectively were close behind. The top 5 teams were rewarded with cash and complimentary 4-ball vouchers to play at clubs around the region. Barnard Castle, as the highest scoring Rotary Team earned the bragging rights to the Penrith Rotary Club Silver Trophy and a 4-ball voucher. The winning Ladies team was the Grange Golden Girls  from Grange Over Sands and they too were rewarded with a 4-ball voucher. Additionally, there were prizes for nearest the pin on all par 3s and for the longest drive on the 18^th hole.

Stephen Clarke, this year’s President of the Penrith Rotary Club, in expressing the Club’s gratitude to all these sponsors, said that it was only through their continuing generosity and that of all the participating players that the event raises so much money for those in need of our help. He also expressed thanks to the Golf Club’s  Fairways Bar and Catering staff for their assistance in making the day so enjoyable. Stephen also thanked the  golf club administrators, golf professionals and his fellow Rotarians and friends who helped make the event such a success.

This charity golf day is the Penrith Rotary Club’s biggest fundraiser and it continues to attract many golfers with the number playing well up on last year. Since the competition started in 2001 it has raised over £100,000. The money raised (net) all goes to charity, and the main recipients this year will be Hospice at Home (Carlisle and North Lakeland) and the Salvation Army (Penrith) Food Bank. The Penrith Rotary Club supports many other good causes and the money raised at the golf competition will be shared between all these very deserving causes.

We hope to do it all again next year on Friday 25^th July 2025 at Penrith Golf Club. Anyone not already on the invitation list who would like to play in the event should let Alex Buchan know by email at 701buchan@gmail.com. Invitations to play will be sent out early next year. Please support our efforts to help others by playing in, or contributing to, this very enjoyable fundraising competition.