Any member of a golf club will tell you the weekly schedule almost always includes a charity or society event.
The story is no different at Torquay Golf Club.
“We have extensive records as to how, by organising and hosting charity events, we have been able to support both small and large organisations,” said Laura Colman from Torquay GC.
“We have particularly strong links with the Bro Project which does a fantastic job in supporting young men and their mental wellbeing. The last ten years has given us the opportunity to support a wide range of charities; many being based in the Bay.
“We support large established charities, for example: Devon Air Ambulance, Cancer Research and The Alzheimer’s Society but also are delighted to support the smaller and more local needs.
“Devon Free Wheelers, The Little Bluebells, Watcombe Primary School Library, who provide motor bike delivery of medications to rural communities, support for new mums and additional reading books, respectively.
“In addition, we donate in excess of 40 four-ball vouchers, every year to other clubs around the country to support their own charities. We are proud to have raised over £221,000 for charities since 2015.
“This year, one of our chosen charity for the annual Pro Am was the Guide Dogs and we raised enough money to be able to name a puppy. The Pro Am committee went to the members and asked for suitable names for the puppy and we are currently voting for the short list of either Caddie, Birdie, Sandy or Ryder.
Craig Gibson, General manager, said that as the members raised the money for the guide dogs, it was vital that they were involved in the naming process and it’s perfect to see that all 4 names have a subtle golf theme in keeping with the golf club.
“Once the name has been chosen, we will receive regular updates with photos and keepsakes and hopefully a visit or two
“Each Captain nominates a local charity and as last year’s lady captain, I selected the Disabled Sailing Association as the Ladies Charity. The DSA started in 2005 with just five members, now it has over 300 members and after six years of raising £300,000, they were able to purchase Free Spirit 2, a Bavaria C38 yacht.
“It was built in Germany and shipped to a Solent boatyard a couple of months ago, where it underwent its final fitout, including the adaptations and other safety features which enables the DSA to offer ‘safe and affordable sailing for the disabled’.”
As well as the charitable contributions, Torquay GC has seen a spectacular growth in the junior game over recent years, a pattern reflected across the South Devon golfing scene.
“Back 20 years ago to be a junior member of the golf club, you had to be 11 years-old or older, but now we have members as young as four,” added Colman.
“The Torquay Golf Academy has regular weekly coaching sessions and camps running throughout the school holidays. Led by James Urquhart and Andrew Place there are over 100 members who have formed close friendship groups and taught core values that help you grow in golf.
“Once the juniors are ready to be on the course, they become junior members of the golf club. This section continues to thrive with regular competitions playing from different tee levels.
“Some of our juniors are representing the Devon Golf Union, and every year, Devon Golf runs a Junior Team championship where the winning team represents the county in a national golf club competition. This year, Torquay Golf Club were successful and went on to play at Spalding golf club.
“We appreciate that playing golf is a timely sport, so the Golf Foundation has created fun formats, such as the Faldo Futures and the Golf Sixes League, where juniors play six holes in a fun Texas scramble format.
“The sixes league is growing in popularity and there are now discussions around introducing a new format, the Golf Niners, where the juniors who have a handicap of 28-35 play a 9 hole Texas scramble.
“It all gives juniors the chance to play and on different courses.”
