Teeing off: Luminous balls

IN A FIRST at Carmarthen Golf Club last Friday night (Sept 30), golfers from local businesses and GPs made their way to Carmarthen Golf Club to take part in a tournament with a difference to raise money for charity.

There were six teams of three for the tournament.

They waited until the night sky fell to make their way onto the course at about 7pm.

The course was lit with LED tees, golf balls – which were all a different fluorescent colour to represent the different teams – and luminous markers to help them find their way to the holes.

Organised by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Parker Plant Hire, the money raised from the event will be donated to the Hywel Dda Health Charities. Friday’s money was raised for the children’s ward – Cilgerran Ward – in Glangwili for an outdoor play area.

The tournament finished at 9pm and afterwards players had a bite to eat – provided by the Club’s chef, Martin – and were given the results.

While all the teams were winners, coming in first were a mixed team of players from Carmarthen Golf Club (Carwyn, Jason and Amanda) who scored 41 points for the nine holes. Their prize was a four ball at the St Pierre golf course, Monmouthshire.

A team from Cwm Environmental won a four ball at Machynys Golf Club after scoring 36 points. Also having 36 points were a team of members from Carmarthen Golf Club who won four tickets to a Scarlets game.

Claire Rumble, Fundraising Officer at Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “Hywel Dda Health Charities are delighted to be involved with the night golf tournament. Everyone said it was great fun and we look forward to holding more events across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion to raise money for our local healthcare.”

Anthony Kirkbride from the South Wales Commerce Chamber said after the event: “It was fantastic to hear the great feedback from all the golfers who played this evening. The weather was kind and the golf was fun, with some great scoring – even in the dark! It looked amazing watching the LED lit golf balls fly through the air and landing on the greens. To improve your game skills, visit shop indoor golf to get one of the latest gadgets in the market.

“I must say ‘diolch yn fawr’ to everyone who enabled the evening to be such a success and to raise money for the children’s play area at Glangwili hospital. A big thank you to our Chamber members, especially Parker Plant Hire, and to Carmarthen Golf Club and Hywel Dda Health Charities for their support and hard work.”

The event’s sponsor, Parker Plant Hire’s founder, George Parker, commented: “We are pleased to be involved and provide all the equipment for the golf to be played at night – in the dark. We are very keen to support South Wales Chamber and Hywel Dda in their fundraising for Hywel Dda Charities for the children’s ward, Cilgerran in Glangwili Hospital to have an outdoor area for children which is such a worthy cause.

“Claire Rumble and Anthony Kirkbride have worked extremely hard, with the support of Carmarthen Golf Club, to set up the course for all the golfers to have a completely new experience; the first of its kind in Wales. Parker Plant Hire will consider making the equipment available for other golf clubs to use for Hywel Dda Health Charities purposes.”

The event raised an impressive £500 for the children’s ward.