Five brave ladies from Henley Golf Club in Oxfordshire withstood the twin challenges of playing Turnberry’s Ailsa Course in storm force conditions to win the 2014 National Golf Club Challenge Final held over the weekend of October 20-21.
The fearless quintet – won the ladies section of the tournament were battered by the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo over two days on the west coast of Scotland, but managed to hold it together in the testing conditions to win the prestigious event, which was sponsored by Your Golf Travel
The Henley team took the title by shots from Brickendon Grange Golf Club, with Royal Club du Hainaut in third. The team of five each won a Motocaddy power trolley, as well as being presented the prestigious ‘Lee Westwood Cup’ – commissioned and donated by Wedgwood – to display in their trophy cabinet. The top two teams both made the generous gesture of donating their prizes back to be used in the NGCC Auction to raise further funds for Help for Heroes.
The final was attended by 60 golfers from ten clubs, with each qualifying out from thousands of golfers who participated throughout the UK at their own golf club’s 2014 National Golf Club Challenge qualifier event. Each event acted as a fundraiser for Help for Heroes, with the final itself raising over £3,500 for the charity.
Henley’s Team Captain, Gill Mitchell, said: “The Henley team were so proud to be crowned champions. The whole experience was totally unforgettable from start to finish. Despite the best efforts of Hurricane Gonzalo, hurling every extreme adverse weather condition it could at us, this was an amazing event. Superbly managed, and definitely the most memorable golfing experience of my life.”
She added: “I would urge every golf club to enter next year’s National Golf Club Challenge competition in order to be given the opportunity to play on such an iconic course and to raise funds for a cause so dear to all our hearts. We have already put our entry in for 2015.”
The men’s final was won by a five-man team from Newcastle-Under-Lyme Golf Club, with Chorlton-Cum-Hardy in second place. Golf Clubs can register to take part in the 2015 National Golf Club Challenge at www.2015ngcc.com.
Golfers can bid on the NGCC online auction supporting Help for Heroes at www.ngccauction.com.