Family Golf Christmas Hat event and Junior Captain’s Drive In
Sunday 8th December saw our end-of-season Family Golf event, themed with Christmas Jumpers and Hats, and ending with some shaky carol singing by the PGA team. The main event though was the Junior Captain drive in and hand over.
Junior Captain drive in
Our 2018/19 Junior Captain Lauren Gooding handed over to 2019/2020 Charles Bowen Rayner on the 1st tee and Charles launched his drive a long way into a cold, stiff wind in front of 55 family Members.
Prior to Charles driving off, Lauren presented Charles with his Junior Captain Roehampton 2020 crested clothing, handing over the Junior Captaincy.
Lauren has been a fabulous ambassador for Roehampton Club on the national and international stage. Lauren is a 1 handicap player who will be going to NCAA Boulder University in Colorado to further her golf and academic studies at the top flight. Thank you very much Lauren and we will follow your continued success with much pride.
Charles started his golf at the Club as a 9-year-old and is now a very accomplished 5 handicapper, with a couple of wins under his belt in men’s competitions. Charles is looking to further his golf and academic studies in the States, and he is quite the athlete having represented England at hockey. Charles has also requested support for a charity promoting mental health in teenagers, Stem4, and the PGA team will be running fund raising and awareness raising events in 2020.
Shotgun start
Following the drive-in, families made their way to the tees for a shotgun start. The event was manned by 5 of the PGA team who were on course helping families play and giving out instruction. The golf was a social event over 90 minutes followed by gifts and prizes over light refreshments. Some families braving the cold below.
Speeches, prizes and gifts
Following the event, families met upstairs for speeches, prizes and tea and each child received a sleeve of three Annabelle Verbeek Roehampton Rockets crested golf balls as a Christmas gift.
Lauren made a lovely speech detailing her history as a Junior golfer and how much the Club means to her. We will really miss you Lauren.
Charles followed Lauren with an equally gracious speech, letting the room know how much he is looking forward to his year.
Our outstanding contribution prize was awarded to Ed O’Shea for playing one armed with his broken arm in a sling!
The event was themed on Christmas hat and jumper, with some fabulous efforts. The Jacqz family came out with hats, beards and jumpers and won the day.
Shaky carols from the PGA team
To finish the event, I put it to the room that the PGA team would sing the opening to We wish you a Merry Christmas if Members were willing to pay £10 and raise some money for Charles’s charity. We managed £250 for a ropey effort! Thank you to the Members for being so kind.
As ever, I would like to thank the PGA team of assistant professionals for being such good sports and for making the day a success.
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On behalf of all the PGA team, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and thank all Members for their continued support.
Richard Harrison
Head Golf Professional