At 1:00pm on Tuesday 19th August, 26 teams with 104 golfers started our clubs Charity Golf Day held at The Orsett Golf Club. The event was a huge success with the golfers enjoying great competition and once again warm weather on one of the finest courses in Essex.
Competitors registered from 11:30 onwards, received their cards and course plan and the chance to buy raffle tickets and tea, coffee and bacon rolls were consumed in the clubhouse before the usual group photograph – this time by drone.
The results were very close with the overall winner being Charlie Silvester on 41 points, closely followed by three other players all on 40. The winning team was Terry Dobbins, Christopher Batley, Gary Nichols and Sean Gillen with 126. The top Lady Player was Donna Smith on 38 and the top Grays Thurrock Rotary members were Sid Vohra and Raj Mohile, both on 36. There were also prizes for ‘Nearest the Pin’ on the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 12th and 15th. In the putting competition, golfers were given three balls on the putting green and the winner, local celebrity, Dave Bennett, managed to sink two.
The prizes were presented after a delicious two course meal in the clubhouse, by club President Paul Smith, who thanked everyone for coming and supporting the event, which was the fourth time the club had organised a Charity Golf Day at Orsett GC. He thanked all the helpers and in particular the generosity of the golfers. After the Prizegiving there was the raffle draw and the winners chose from a huge table of prizes, including meals at local restaurants, 4 Ball vouchers at local golf clubs, Garden Centre vouchers, bottles of spirits, bouquets of flowers, diffusers and the star prize, the golfers hamper. There was also an auction of other prizes which raides £800. Even the Club Pro managed to raise over £200 on the ‘Beat the Pro’ competition. After deduction of expenses, the club made just over £6,000 for Rotary charities which is a huge amount in the current climate.
As highlighted by our President, this event is only possible with the support of many people. First, our generous Silver sponsors: PIB Insurance Brokers and CR Bland Baker. Also our Bronze sponsors: Rowland Hall, K Wagstaff & Sons Ltd, Spire Contracts Ltd, AJ Life, Noakes Property Ltd, B&C Properties Essex Ltd, Concept Home Improvements, NV Travel, Globe Engineering Supplies, Aerocomm Ltd, Leopard Travel & Events, and EMB & Co. Plus of course to the Orsett Golf Club and their staff on the day. To local businesses who contributed prizes for the raffle and the auction: Thurrock Garden Centre, The Bell Horndon, Zenxi Chinese Restaurant, Orsett Hall, Village Indiya and the following Golf Clubs for four ball vouchers: Orsett, Upminster, Braintree and Crondon Park. To our members who contributed to the raffle: Clive Page, Adrian Alsop, John Harrington, Peter Brainwood, Paul Smith, Derek Swan, Graham Pinkerton, John Walsham, Dave Wheatley and Ivan North. Finally, to our members who helped on the day: Ray Smallcombe (club liaison), Ivan North (project leader), Dave Wheatley and John Smith, (scoring and admin), Clive Page and Adrian Alsop (raffle and putting competition), Steve Davies (putting competition), Dave Hamilton (scoring and finance) and John Collier (photographer and runner).
Next year’s competition will also be at Orsett Golf Club and is already in the diary for 18th August 2026, so if you are interested in entering a team have a look at the club website at the end of May next year for entry details. You need to be quick because many of this years teams have said they will return.
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