Brue Valley Rotary’s Charity Golf Day

There is a particular kind of generosity that shows up before the first tee shot. It is in the volunteers setting out prizes, the returning teams greeting one another, and the local businesses that decide a good day of golf can do some good too. That was the spirit of Brue Valley Rotary’s 2026 Charity Golf Day at Wheathill Golf Club. Eighteen teams and 72 players came together for a four-ball Stableford, with more than 50 local businesses helping the day take shape. By the end, the event had raised £7,300 for Children’s Hospice South West. For Andrew Moore of Brue Valley Rotary, the event works because it keeps golf and purpose in balance. He describes the day as “friendly competition, a warm welcome and a shared effort” from golfers, volunteers and supporters. It is a simple formula, but one that has brought people back to Wheathill year after year. The day has a meaningful history. An earlier Rotary golf event had come to an end during the pandemic, but former Glastonbury and Street Rotary president Peter Townley saw an opportunity to bring it back. With advice from Peter Davey, who had previously organised the event, Brue Valley Rotary gave the day a new home and a fresh start. Choosing the charity was equally deliberate. Each Rotary president selects a charity of the year, Andrew explains, usually “one close to home where support can make a real difference.” Children’s Hospice South West was the right fit: it serves families in the local area, has a personal connection for a club member, and has worked alongside the Rotary team to promote the day, attract sponsors and enter teams. The result is a charity golf day that feels local in the best sense of the word. Golfers return because they enjoy the chance to catch up as much as the competition. Local companies contribute prizes, sponsorship and practical support. The club provides the setting, and the hospice gives the whole day a purpose beyond the scorecard. Children’s Hospice South West supports children and young people living with life-limiting conditions, along with their families. For the Rotary team, supporting the charity makes the fundraising goal tangible. Every team entry, donated prize and sponsor contribution becomes part of a wider effort to give families care, time and support when they need it most. The numbers tell one part of the story. Eighteen teams, 72 players, more than 50 businesses and £7,300 raised are a strong result for a community-led day. But the lasting value is in the relationships behind them: the people willing to give their time, the familiar faces who come back, and the local businesses that show up year after year. That forward-looking approach is built into the event too. After each golf day, the organising team meets to review what worked and to find something new for the following year. Andrew’s advice to other clubs is practical: “Speak to nearby clubs already running a golf day, learn from their experience and avoid competing with an established event nearby.” Looking ahead, Brue Valley Rotary will return to Wheathill Golf Club on 9 September 2027 for the next Charity Golf Day, carrying that same community spirit into another year. That is what makes a charity golf day more than a fixture in the calendar. It is a reason for people to gather, a practical way for a community to help, and a reminder that a simple day on the course can have a real effect well beyond the fairway.