AR GOLF DAY - THURSDAY 16th JUNE 2011 THE OXFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB, RYCOTE LANE, MILTON COMMON, THAME, OX9 2PU
Sponsored By
This year’s Accessible Retail Golf Day was held at a prestigious new venue – The Oxfordshire Golf Club, near Thame in Oxfordshire on Thursday 16th June 2011. Henderson Global Investors and Morgan Williams kindly sponsored this year’s event and, with a challenging new venue, there was an increase in numbers attending leading to the event virtually selling out.
The weather was very kind to us with only the odd shower to spoil an otherwise perfect day and there were a number of good rounds. The individual winner was Nick Ferris with 41 points. In second place on count back was Jason Bannister with 40 points, just pipping 2009 winner Alastair Biggart, who also scored 40 points, finishing third.
Alastair Biggart went on to win the team prize along with Dan Hyde, Chris Riley and Simon Hawkins with a score of 91 points. Michael Neal was particularly keen to present the Wooden Spoon to his colleague Matthew Reed and the Most improved student on the Golf Clinic prize went to Ellie Kirkby.
The Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin prizes were kindly supplied by CgMs. Nearest the Pin on the 5th hole was Andy Cherry and the Longest Drive on the 17th hole, which was voted one of the Top 500 Holes in the World by the editors of Golf Magazine was achieved by Edward Power.
After the prizes were presented we were entertained by comedian and impressionist Aaron James who was very entertaining, particularly when he tried to get the better of Doug Stevens – I think it may be best to call that one a draw. Aaron then led us in a game of Dead or Alive to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and this was won by Chris Thomas.
We adjourned to the lobby where Tom and Yasmin from Ultra-Hive provided cocktail entertainment and a game to raise more money. Everyone was entertained until the supplies of Strawberry Daiquiri, Whisky Sour, Pomegranate & Mango Martini and Pineapple & Ginger Mojito ran out. Chris Thomas won the game and a total of £749.50 was raised, including several IOU’s which WILL be collected. The sum raised was increased by Trevor Wood Associates and a cheque for a total of £1,250 has been sent to Marie Curie Cancer Care on behalf of Accessible Retail.
After the entertainment members moved on to the bar and partied until the early hours. Thanks must go to Henderson Global Investors and Morgan Williams for generously allowing us to relocate to this new venue, CgMs for sponsoring the Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin and to Louise Oliver and Anne Taylor for all their hard work putting the event together along with Marianne and her colleagues at The Oxfordshire. A very enjoyable day was had by all and we will be warmly welcomed back in the future.
The 2012 Accessible Retail Golf Day will be organised by the 2010 winner, Stuart Lunn