It was an inspiring sight to see ex military personnel who had overcome serious illness and injury take to the golf course to compete in the 2nd Annual Charity Pro Am at Puttenham Golf Club on Thursday 22nd September in aid of The On Course Foundation. The On Course Foundation is a charity that helps the rehabilitation of injured and sick service personnel through the game of golf and is a charity that had been adopted, not just for the Pro Am, but also by the Men’s and Ladies Club Captains, Mike & Judy Smith as their chosen Captains’ Charity for their year. With the Course in pristine condition and the sun breaking through 64 golfers in total set off for what proved to be a great day’s golf. A brand new Mitsubishi was on offer for a hole in one at the 176 yard, par 3 18th but sadly, despite a few close calls, a hole in one proved too illusive on the day!
Local PGA professionals James Ablett (Lee on Solent Golf Club) and David Copsey (DCGS Poultwood) were joint winners both shooting three under par rounds of 68 around the 6220 yard par 71 Puttenham layout. The team award went to Puttenham members Colin Thody, Paul Bugdale and Jim Giberson who undoubtedly used their course knowledge combined with the skills of their team professional Mark Searle (High Post Golf Club) to shoot an impressive 23 under par team total.
Due to the generosity of our main sponsor Normandy Garage, the individual hole sponsors, the participants in the charity auction, those who had donated raffle prizes and of course the many volunteers who gave up their time to help with the event, Puttenham Golf Club managed to raise in the region of £5000 for The On Course Foundation.