EDITION NO 13

NEWSLETTER – MAY 20th, 2021

JAMIE’S BLOG We have had a very busy period with five events in the last five weeks, and the support from our members has been fantastic. Thanks as always for your continued support. Although we haven’t been able to use the inside of any clubhouses yet, I’m sure you’ll agree we have been accommodated extremely well by all our venues with the use of their marquees and, somehow, we have made it work. That said, I am very excited that moving forward we will be able to use the clubhouses and, hopefully, have some great entertainment from our Celebrities, as well as run some live auctions to help continue our fundraising efforts. May I also draw your attention to our website – www.varietygolf.org.uk. If you click on ‘events’ you will see all our upcoming events, entry fee costs, venue information and also event results and news. Plus, you can book online. Our next event is the Ronnie Corbett Trophy kindly sponsored by Nick Green at Hadley Wood GC, next Thursday, the 27th May. I am delighted to say that yet again we have a sell- out, so I look forward to seeing many of you there. Our June Monthly Prize Draw will be drawn out at Captain’s Day on the 8th by Captain Len so, if you would like to sign up for this, please get in touch and set up a direct debit of £20 per month by the 31st May.

Winning European Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjorn, confirmed to host our Variety Pro-Invitational at Sandy Lodge on 19th July

We have some Good News & Bad News! Bad News... Unfortunately, John Daly has been fighting cancer for the past nine months and has been forced to withdraw from and Seniors British Open this year - which means he is now unable to host our Variety Pro-Am on the 19th July, however... Here’s the Good News! We have a strong replacement and are thrilled to announce that the latest victorious European Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjorn, has confirmed that he will host our 2021 Variety Pro- Invitational at Sandy Lodge GC on Monday 19th July! Each team will be made up of three amateurs accompanied by a Tour Professional as their fourth, plus each team will play one hole with Thomas Bjorn as well! So far, we’ve had 20 teams entered and there are now just three team spaces left = so please let me know ASAP if you wish to enter!

PLAY WITH THE SENIOR TOUR PROS IN THE EUROPEAN LEGENDS LINKS TH

CHAMPIONSHIP , TREVOSE, 18-20 JUNE

Please find attached information about one of our Variety members – John Hayes from Champions UK - who are running the first European Seniors Tour event of 2021 down at the stunning Trevose GC in Padstow, Cornwall. John has kindly donated spots for our members to compete alongside the Pros as their amateur partners for the first 2 rounds of the 3-round event, a once in a lifetime chance to play golf inside the ropes with some of the Legends of the game with Pros such as , Paul Lawrie, Thomas Bjorn, Michael Campbell and many more! There are only a couple of spots left so please get in touch ASAP. Entry is £2,000 per amateur including 2 rounds of Championship golf with a Seniors Tour Pro, 2 nights’ accommodation, goody bags, prizes and full hospitality!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN JUNE We have our annual Variety Team v’s Moor Park GC match on the 2nd June. This is a team of 12 from Variety Golf versus 12 from Moor Park played in fourball matchplay, including Breakfast before and Lunch in the Mansion afterwards. Please do let me know if you would like to pay and represent Variety Golf?

Please note our two other big events in June are both nearly full now, so please get in touch to enter - or you can also find event information and enter via our website – www.varietygolf.org.uk

8th June: Captain’s Day – Moor Park GC

24th June: Sunshine Classic hosted by Ian Woosnam – Woburn GC (Dukes Course)

GOLD & SILVER CHALLENGE AT WEST HILL – 11TH MAY

Last week’s event was played at West Hill GC which was in simply incredible condition! Paul Walsh won the Gold division with 38 points with Gavin Wilding & Dickon Bowden finishing in 2nd place with 35 points. Our Captain, Len Goodman took the spoils in the Silver Division with 35 points, narrowly beating Daniel Sims & Grant Gallafant into second place both with 34 points. The team competition was very close but with 87 points and winning on countback was Roger De Courcey, Andy Wilding, Ian Watson and Gavin Wilding with the runners-up team of Paul Walsh, Daniel Sims, Steve Middleton & Grant Gallafent. The winning team with Jamie and Captain Len

The Stars Turn Out for Variety Golf on the 6th May...

A fantastic line-up of celebrities turned out for the Variety Golf Pro/Celebrity/Am event at Sunningdale Heath on Thursday, May 6th. led the pros, including Philip Price, Trish Johnson, former BMW Champion, and . Olympic Gold Medalist, Denise Lewis, joined TV presenters Naga Munchetty (right), Dan Walker and Jenni Falconer together with our very own Len Goodman and Anton Du Beke, to represent the world of entertainment. In a filmed tribute, Nick Dougherty said: “To give opportunities to those that are disadvantaged is really cool - because everyone today has had a wonderful time. We’ve had a real giggle on the golf course...and to be part of something so worthwhile – it’s awesome!” To see the video in full go to: https://youtu.be/llSpq8ZlxAM or, to see the full gallery of photographs taken on the day, visit www.varietygolf.org.uk.

Do get in touch as I’m sure these June events will SELL OUT QUICKLY! And do remember to check the website, www.varietygolf.org, to see details of all our events - plus a lot of fascinating stuff about our history and charitable achievements. Jamie.

VARIETY GOLF: 11, PARK PLACE, NEWDIGATE ROAD, HAREFIELD, UB9 6EJ TEL: 07801 098101. E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.VARIETYGOLF.ORG.UK