The 18^th ACI UK Annual Charity Golf Day took place on July 4 2016, once again at the fabulous Buckinghamshire golf club.  20 teams competed in glorious sunshine to win trophies and other prizes but as always, the highlight of the day was the presentation of our 54th Variety Sunshine Coach to Sherwood Park School in Surrey.   In 18 years ACI UK (with ACI Ireland) has been responsible for funding around 10% of all Sunshine Coaches in the UK – a fantastic achievement of which all members should be very proud.

It would not be possible to hold this event and support Variety – the Children’s Charity to continue its Sunshine Coach initiative without the generous contribution of our teams, sponsors and supporters.   In addition to entering teams, all elements of the day are sponsored, from the buggies and breakfast through to (much-needed) post-match refreshments.   Other support comes from those who donate the auction and raffle prizes that make a significant contribution to the days fund-raising.    ACI UK – and Variety – thank each and every one of you for your generosity and support.

Players, supporters, ACI UK Committee Members and Variety ambassadors join the staff and students of Sherwood Park School in Surrey for the presentation of their new – and second! – Sunshine Coach.

The overall 2016 competition was won by BATS Hotspot with 89, followed very closely by Equinix (89) and in third place, Flextrade (88).

Thanks to our Sponsors

IHT Markit sponsored an early breakfast in the Clubhouse before teams took to their buggies, sponsored again by Flextrade, to move to their allotted starting tees.

Roving refreshments, much needed on a very hot day, were this year dispensed by EC1 Partners and ADS Securities (London) offered Prosecco and Buck’s Fizz on the 9th.  We are particularly grateful to  Fastmatch who stepped in at very short notice to sponsor post-match refreshments.

Caplin sponsored the event’s wifi, ensuring that all were able to keep in contact with the ‘real world’ while enjoying their day in the sun.

Link to more photos at Variety – the Children’s Charity

ADS also sponsored a ‘hole in one’ on the 9th hole, with the potential to win a gold bar and £5000.  Curex sponsored a further three ‘holes in one’ on the 3rd, 14th and 16th.   Sadly, there were no winners this year; better luck next time!

Other ‘spot’ prizes on the course were longest drive, again sponsored by Equinix, straightest drive by ParFX and several nearest the pin in 2 sponsored by BATS Hotspot.

Sherwood Park School; our 2nd Sunshine Coach!

Our 54th Sunshine Coach was presented to staff and pupils from Sherwood Park School in Surrey, a Local Authority maintained school currently undergoing an expansion programme that will include the opening of a brand new site.  This will enable the number of students to increase to a capacity of 160 by 2020.  Some 86 pupils require coach transport today, rising to 100 by next year.

Sherwood school caters for pupils from 3 to 19 with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.  This is the second Sunshine Coach donated by ACI UK to the School; the first one, donated in 2002, is still going strong but a second one is required to accommodate the increase in students requiring coach transport (and the expansion to a second site).

The new minibus will be used every day to take children to leisure centres, horse riding, local parks, outside learning establishments and entertainment facilities like theatres and bowling.  Most of the journeys are local so members in Surrey should keep an eye out for it!

Auction and Raffle

This year we welcomed the return of Bob “the Cat” Bevan, arguably Britain’s leading after-dinner speaker and the first person to be honoured by HM the Queen for after-dinner speaking.

As well as being extremely funny, Bob is an accomplished auctioneer, generating strong winning bids for a variety of prestigious auction items, including a 2-night stay at the K Club in Dublin (courtesy of EC1 Partners) and vouchers worth £1000 for a bespoke suit from Fielding & Nicholson.

In addition to the auction, players supported a raffle which with the auction proceeds made a considerable additional contribution to our fund-raising effort.   Our sincere thanks to all who donated auction and raffle items, provided items for players’ goody bags or otherwise supported the event.

We are very aware that our sponsors, supporters and team captains have to work increasingly hard to persuade marketing departments to make room for this event in ever-tightening annual budgets and we are enormously grateful for their continuing commitment and support.

With sincerest thanks to all players, sponsors, prize donors and event supporters.

ACI UK Golf Committee

Alastair Crane, Sue Attwood, Daren Hill, Jamie Cole, Tina Kane and David Emerick