The GIMA Charity Golf Day, held on June 9 2016, was once again a hot and sunny affair with 20 teams battling it out for various accolades including closest to the pin and longest drive.
Hundreds of GIMA members and their retail partners attended the golf and the evening dinner which raised thousands of pounds for this year’s designated gardening charities, Greenfingers and Perennial.
Headline sponsor Gardenforum and organiser Andy Bestwick awarded this year’s cup to Grange, who finished a clear 3 points ahead of their rivals.
The golfers took part to compete in teams of four, with Bord Na Mona, Westland, Zest 4 Leisure, Smart Garden, Decco, Perennial, Vitax, Boughton Loam, Sunshine Garden Centre, Grange,
Forest,
HTA, Deco-Pak, Woodlodge, Briers and Town & Country all putting forward at least one team to play at the Telford Hotel and Golf Resort in Shropshire.
Due to the fierce heat, the golf turned out to be especially challenging, but thanks to refreshments stands from Westland and Maryanne Stokes, all 20 teams managed to enjoy the full 6,741 yards of the 18 hole championship course.
At the evening dinner, golfers and attendees were treated to a three course meal and entertainment from Steve Kindon, kindly sponsored by Grange, a former football player who made everyone laugh with anecdotes from his humble yet exciting career at Wolves, Burnley and England B. Over £1500 was raised in raffle tickets alone, with hundreds more coming from generous bids during the charity auction that followed.
GIMA director Vicky Nuttall commented: “All in all, this was another successful golf day, raising much needed funds for charity and creating invaluable time spent with friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. A great deal of thanks must go to our sponsors, including Gardenforum, Grange Fencing, Bord Na Mona, Maryanne Stokes, Westland / Bucktons, Vitax, Woodlodge, Bord Na Mona, Smart Garden Products, Garden Press Event, Deco Pak, Zest 4 Leisure, Hozelock, The HTA, Forest Garden, Nigel Thompson Associates, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Cadix, Steve Burden Photography, Garden Trade News, Andy Bestwick, Outback BBQ’s, Think Outside, Petface and Q Hotels.”
