Swinley Forest success for PGA Benevolent Fund

Some of the great and the good of The PGA in England (South) and a few select guests, gathered at the wonderful Swinley Forest Golf Club for The PGA Benevolent Fund Pros Day.

The inaugural event was the brain child of PGA Members Lee Johnson (Drift) and George Ritchie (Swinley Forest), who proposed a Professionals’ Golf Day so that PGA Members could get together for some fun but competitive golf to generate funds for The PGA Benevolent Fund.

Established at the founding of the Association back in 1901, The PGA Benevolent Fund is a charity that continues to assist PGA Members in hardship or distress, and each year offers help and support in a number of ways. The fund remains an important element of The PGA’s work and is one of the many ways it supports its Members.

Playing a modified Texas Scramble, 72 players enjoyed all 18 holes of Colt’s masterpiece followed by the sumptuous Swinley Forest Lunch. Whilst charity was the focus of the day, a little competition was still to be had and the teams from Mill Ride and Silvermere led by PGA Professionals Gary Evans and Ian Campbell respectively, tied on 21-under-par, two ahead of Phil Taylor’s Pachesham team. 

On a countback, Mill Ride took the winner’s spoils from the prize table, kindly and generously provided by James Cuthbertson from Dark Star Brewing.

But it was The PGA Benevolent Fund that was the real winner with a massive £4,000 raised on the day by all those who participated, along with a greater awareness of the really important work carried out by, and with the support of, the Fund.