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Willow blog

2016 Golf Season is roaring success for Willow

October 5, 2016

At Willow, the golf season starts in May and ends in September with our very own Bob and Megs Wilson often participating alongside sporting legends, Willow’s supporters, ambassadors and partners at clubs across the country, and abroad.

Golf, ‘the sport of kings’, every year proves a successful fundraising activity for Willow, the very royal sum raised this year alone will fund up to 160 Special Days.

The August bank holiday weekend saw the inaugural Willow Senior Golf Classic (WSGC), held at Marriott Hanbury Manor Hotel & Country Club in Ware. The tournament is a new addition to the European Senior Tour’s UK schedule, and prior to the main event were two Pro-Am days featuring big names including Ian Woosnam. With special thanks to Duncan Sinclair, it was an overwhelming success, raising an astounding £120,000 for Willow.

Hot on the heels of the WSGC was The Hanbury Life Golf Day, also at Hanbury Manor. Organised by Herts businessmen and Willow supporters, Steve Watts and Chris Emery, clients and customers of their organisations, Life Environmental and Hanbury Wealth, joined Arsenal & Tottenham legends Pat Jennings, Martin Chivers and Bob Wilson to raise a fantastic sum of almost £30,000.
 
Making the most of the mild Autumn weather, Romford-based specialist travel insurer, AllClear, sponsored a charity golf day at Braintree golf course in September. This was the tenth year that Chris Wacey’s AllClear Group has sponsored the annual Braintree Golf Day and thanks to the generosity of AllClear’s clients, suppliers and associates they’ve raised more than £120,000 in that time. AllClear also sponsors the annual Bob Wilson Golf Classic, this year held in sunny St Omer, France raising a huge £10,000.

Ending Willow’s 2016 golf season on Friday 23 September was the popular Arsenal V Spurs Golf Day at East Herts Golf Club. This was the ninth year that Bob has captained the Arsenal team against Willow ambassador, Martin Chivers for Spurs. With a lot of friendly banter and rivalry on the day, the Arsenal team won for the third year in a row. Thanks to the Golf Club and in particular Daniel Field, valuable funds were raised.

Charity of The Year

We’re also grateful and proud to have been chosen by many golf clubs as their Charity of the Year, including Upminster Golf Club, Enfield Golf Club, Brewers Arms Golf Society, Portsmouth, Chesham and Lay Golf Club, The Suffolk Golf Club and Essendon Golf Club with Chesfield Downs, Leatherhead and Bishop’s Stortford Clubs choosing to support us next year. DeVere and McCarthy & Stone have also held charity golf days in aid of Willow. With a variety of fundraising events including Captain’s Day events and black tie dinners, the amounts raised will go a long way to helping us to provide many more Special Days.

Special Thanks

Bob Wilson, Willow Life President and Co-Founder says, “Without the support of all these individuals, organisations, golf clubs and ambassadors, Willow simply couldn’t provide the hundreds of Special Days it does each month.  Thanks to their commitment to the cause, we will help transform the lives of young adults living with life threatening conditions at a time when they need it most.”

And finally, a BIG thank you to all our marvellous Willow volunteers who work tirelessly from the early morning tee-off until the last auction bid is made in the clubhouse. We really couldn’t do it without your help.