Weston captains hand over cheque to RNLI

Born and bred in the town, he chose the local RNLI as his Captain’s Charity and the Lady Captain Alison Whitewood joined forces with him to raise money for the same charity.

It is a charity close to the hearts of Weston-super-Mare Golf Club, with head greenkeeper Simon Cresser one of a number of long-standing volunteer helmsmen stationed at the local branch.

The local RNLI are currently operating from a temporary lifeboat station, until sufficient funding and planning allows for a more permanent and better suited location in the future.

Andy and Alison thanked all club members and local businesses who supported and sponsored events and who recognised there were missed opportunities for fundraising during 2020 and made personal contributions to the Captains RNLI fund.

The Captain’s Charity Day was just one of the many events held that was very well supported and which added up to the incredible total of £4,021.53 raised.

Weston captains Andy Balcombe and Alison Whitewood with a cheque for the RNLI alongside Glyn Hayes and Mike Buckland (Image: Weston GC)

A cheque was recently presented to RNLI Chairman of Fundraising Peter Elmont, together with Weston's Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Buckland and in the presence of the Lifeboat Press Officer Glyn Hayes.

Cresser also joined in with the 2020 Captains for a photo opportunity back at the golf club's practice putting green.

Weston captains Alison Whitewood and Andy Balcombe with their cheque for the RNLI and head greenkeeper Simon Cresser, who volunteers for the service (Image: Weston GC)

Balcombe also raised a further £2,270 in 2020 towards his Captain’s Project, to be spent on purchasing something useful and beneficial to the club in the near future.

Whitewood raised additional funds for the purchase of new signage at both ends of the public footpath to warn walkers of the potential dangers crossing the course.

This year’s Club Captain Paul Burns and Lady Captain Cathy Preston are carrying on with the local RNLI as one of their chosen charities and it is hoped members can support them throughout their year and wish them well.

*No fewer than 115 members took part in the monthly medal, with excellent conditions leading to low scoring as 14 scored level par of better.

Sam Bibb won with a nett 65, one clear of Chanon Sookphanich, Dave Richardson and Andrew Chambers, and two ahead of Chris Wray, Andy Fernley, Craig Lazenby and Tim James.

Chris Disney and Colin Lawton shot nett 68, as a total of 28 twos were scored, with four players carding two apiece.

Weston seniors held the St George's Trophy strokeplay competition off the white tees, with Andrew Chambers carding five birdies in his winning nett 65.

Runner-up Terry Marnock was three shots back, as David Bickell took third on countback from Aussie Denison and Christopher Doyle after they carded 70s.

Henry McGrory took sixth ahead of Terry Holden and David Rowland following their 71s, with Dennis Longden and Steve Thomas completing the top 10 with 72s.

Chambers, Denison, Steve Corrick, Bill Diamond, Alan Harris, Andrew Kirchen and Steve Thomas had twos, but there were 11 disqualifications as players failed to enter correct handicaps under the new WHS rules.