Coleg Gwent’s first ever staff charity golf tournament got into full swing recently as staff dusted off their drivers, practiced their putting and got ready to hit the fairway.
The event was open to all Coleg Gwent staff and took place at Alice Springs Golf Club in Usk with £5 from every entry donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee Pakistan Floods Appeal. A number of Coleg Gwent staff have been taking part in free golf lessons at the club as part of the college’s health and wellbeing initiatives, and helped organise the event.
Gill Pollock, Manager for Organisation and Development at Coleg Gwent said: “We were delighted to raise around £120 at the tournament, and donations are still coming in from our campuses. We thought the tournament would be a good way to raise money for those affected by the floods in Pakistan, and we are now hoping to hold an annual charity golf tournament each year.
“Free golf lessons through the Golf Development Wales have been a great success, with staff getting fitter, meeting new people and having fun as well. I think there is a lot of interest in continuing and perhaps other staff can get involved too, with a view to having regular golf events at the college. We would also like to encourage students too so we will look at ways to get them involved in the year ahead.”
Zoё Thacker, Golf Development Officer at Golf Development Wales said: “GDW aims to provide more golfing opportunities for all, especially women. Through initiatives such as the SWALEC Beginner Start Golfing Scheme, it has been a great way to encourage ladies to take up the sport. Alice Springs Golf Club has been an ideal place for beginners to learn golf in a fun and social setting with no intimidating regulations.”
Despite being absolute beginners at the sport, Ann Williams, Leslie Wynne, Nicole Tranter and Aled Pugh made up the winning team, ‘Golf’s not all about glamour’ and the award for the Most Improved Beginner went to Karen Dirkse.
“The golf lessons were wonderful and a good opportunity to get outside and learn something new”, said Ann Williams, a lecturer in hair and beauty based at Coleg Gwent’s Ebbw Vale Campus. “It was great fun to take part in the competition I loved every minute. Thanks to everyone who helped support it.”
