CAFT Golf Day at the Mere raises £35,000

A record total of 30 teams had a fantastic day of golfing at the club followed by a fun prize-giving dinner in the evening hosted by the man behind Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Mark Boler.

John Kinney’s winning team

Long-term supporters of the Adventure Farm, BACTA North West, were the event’s main sponsor and also sent a team down to play.

Sponsors from BACTA

CAFT staff and volunteers, from left, Catherine Watton, Pippa Watton, Marie Molnar, Helen Crowther, Katy Airey, Rob Bashforth and Helen Frank

The corporate community came together to support the event to make it a huge success, with companies paying £100 to become hole sponsors - including Peak Tuition, Frankland Tree Services and Insurewise.

The day teed off with a lunch in the club before the teams took to the course for an afternoon of golf.

CAFT volunteers, including a team from Lloyds Banking Group, kept the golfers fed, watered and entertained throughout.

Carol Laing braves the rain

The golfers were kept entertained on the course by a number of fun competitions such as Nearest the Pin, On The Green In One and the Longest Drive. There was also the opportunity to take on PGA Professionals in Beat the Pro.

After an afternoon of play Mark Boler hosted the dinner, which included music from Molly’s Chambers, a raffle and auctions.

Auction highlights included signed items including a Ryder Cup Pin Flag and Mo Salah shirt and top tickets to see Michael Buble and Mumford & Sons at the Manchester Arena.

There were several Four Balls at local courses and a Land Rover Experience Day with overnight stay at Peckforton Castle courtesy of Guy Salmon, which displayed its cars on the course.

Dave Harrison and team enjoying the Championship course

The charity held one of its signature special raffles, inviting guests to buy a sleeve of golf balls donated by Cargill, with one lucky winner whizzing away with a Porsche Driving Experience at Silverstone thanks to Porsche Centre of Wilmslow.

Charles Mitchell Wines treated the players to a fabulous wine-tasting experience which ran throughout the evening, bringing along 10 of their finest wines and also supplying prizes for the team who came in second place.

The focus of the evening was the prize-giving, which saw last year’s runners-up, John Kinney’s team, scooping first prize.

Each team member walked away with a watch from Randalls of Altrincham and a bottle of bubbly. Second place went to Voiteq with Complete Roofing Systems coming a close third.

Events Organiser at CAFT, Pippa Watton said: “This was such a fantastic day, the weather was mixed but luckily our golfers took it all in their stride.

"The teams were in fine spirits and all enjoyed playing this beautiful course.

"We were blown away to raise a record-breaking amount this year, with profits ensuring we can provide free holidays at The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, bringing fun and laughter to thousands of young children in need this year.

"We really can’t thank our sponsors and golfers enough for making this possible. We must say a huge thank you to our volunteers for helping the event to go so well, Lloyds Banking Group have been part of this event for several years now and I really don’t know what we’d do without them.

"The money raised will help us to provide life-changing holidays for countless terminally-ill, disabled and disadvantaged children this year. A fantastic achievement for all concerned.”