Rocket Launch Heralds Golf Fundraiser

The venue was the prestigious Members South Course at The Rayleigh Club in Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, where 20 teams of four eagerly waited on all 18 tees for a giant rocket to be launched, to signal the ‘Shotgun Start’ and, with a resounding bang echoing around the hills, they were off!

Many seasoned golfers were playing that day but it was 17 year old Joseph Hunt from ‘Family of Fore who won the trophy for the ‘Longest Drive’, managing to tee-off with an incredible 280-yard shot on an uphill fairway on the 10^th hole.

The Individual Winner was Joe Williams from electrical company Emmersons, with a score of 43 points.

The trophy for the Winning Team went to Nigel Wright, Danny Wright, Roger Elliott and Paul Prentice alias ‘Green Thumb’, with Paul Prentice also managing to scoop the trophy for just one shot, which landed Nearest the Pin on the 5^th hole.

Critical Care Paramedic, Laurie Philipson’s, speech at the Awards presentation described how he and the team bring pre-hospital critical care to the scene, enabling life-saving procedures at the earliest opportunity.  Funds raised at events such as Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’s Golf Day, help to make such vital lifesaving work possible.

Everyone enjoyed a dinner of steak pie and apple crumble and custard for desert, with after dinner entertainment provided by stand-in comedian, Frank, the Albanian waiter.  A very successful raffle and auction helped to add to the funds raised.

Rotary Club President, Ian Reading said ‘We are delighted that we will be able to present Essex and Herts Air Ambulance with a cheque for £4,000 following our charity event.  Their helicopter only landed the day before our Golf Day, on one of the Fairways at The Rayleigh Club, to help a seriously ill gentleman - which made our event even more poignant.  Their life saving work is second to none and we are proud to be able to support them’.