The day raised £1,000 each for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, the Triangle Centre in Kingsbridge and Bigbury Golf Club’s development fund.
Keith Olver, managing director of Palladium Builders Merchants, said: ‘This is our eight charity golf day with Bigbury in recognition of all of our customers’ support throughout the year. All the money goes to good causes and as a local company we are proud to support local charities.
‘We choose Bigbury because they feel like family and allow us to take over the whole club, give us free food, free golf and a free bar!’
Rex Brown, volunteer for the Devon Air Ambulance since 2012, received the cheque on behalf of the DAAT and said: ‘Thank you to Palladium for their very generous cheque. By the end of October we will be flying at night and we are currently setting up a network of community landing sites throughout Devon.
‘Night flying will require us to raise £5.5million a year.’
Pat Moore from the Triangle Centre said: ‘We continue to go from strength to strength and a huge thank you to Palladium who consistently support the Triangle Centre.
’We are here for people who would like some more clarity and discussion about their treatment. The drop in centre really supports the chemotherapy outreach work and we work very much as hand in glove, its a wonderful resource.’
Nigel Blenkarne, director of golf at Bigbury, said: ‘The Palladium Charity Golf Day is the highlight of the year at Bigbury.
‘The club’s development fund is made up of donations from the Palladium Golf Days, money from Sport England, odd donations and donations from members.
‘With it we have been able to refurbish the club house, add new roof insulation, new furniture, windows and a bar. We still have the front door, locker rooms and showers to upgrade and other little things that go on and on.
‘As a CASC, Community Amateur Sports Club, we are open to everyone and are a facility for the community. Golf has a reputation for being stuffy and elitist and we are working hard to change that. ?
‘Golf is having to think about how it does things to encourage more people to take up the sport, especially more young people. We are applying for Lottery Funding, which we can only do as a CASC that welcomes everyone, and are trying to attract more people into golf.’
Tracy Loveys, club professional and champion, explained that Bigbury Golf Club is offering five beginner lessons for £25, to let people learn the basics and encourage people to take up the sport.
‘Only 16 per cent of golfer nationally are women’, explained Tracy, ‘I’ve had a group of women come in recently and they have really enjoyed themselves. Call the Pro Shop for more information.’
For more information, visit Bigbury Golf Club’s website: www.bigburygolfclub.co.uk