The Ryder Cup itself visited West Byfleet Golf Club last month, prior to it travelling to Whistling Straits for the world famous Ryder Cup competition. Members and their families were excited to be able to get up close and see the trophy itself.
The Cup had been at Wentworth for the PGA Golf Championship, and after its day at West Byfleet, it was taken by private plane, straight to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, USA, for the 2021 Ryder Cup competition. The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between a team from Europe and a team from the United States. The cup’s detour, via West Byfleet Golf Club, was arranged by Keith Waters of The PGA European Tour, who is also a club member. As the cup’s security was of huge importance, four members of the club had the privilege of guarding the cup, in stints of three or four hours. Golfers were most enthusiastic to be able to come and visit the famous trophy and many were photographed with it, making donations to the charity for the privilege of doing so. Excited to be able to see the cup, children also came to the golf club after school. Delighted to have been able to guard the trophy for a period of time, Geoff Drabble, a member of the golf club recounted, “It was an enormous privilege to be responsible for the safety of such a prestigious trophy. It was very rewarding to see the pleasure people got from coming to see it”. The visit was part of a charity Celebrity Golf event at West Byfleet Golf Club in aid of local children’s hospice, Shooting Star. Members enjoyed a day of golf with celebrities including Steve Perryman, ex Tottenham Hotspur football player, Rob Henderson, ex Ireland and Lions rugby player and Jimmy Tarbuck from the world of entertainment. In excess of £12,000 was raised for the Shooting Star hospice. The day was a huge success and current Captain, Terry O’Connor, explained, “For me personally to have the Ryder Cup at West Byfleet Golf Club during my captaincy, with all its history, was a real pleasure and an honour. It gave our members a great thrill, especially to have their photo taken with the cup”. This year the Ryder Cup was won, rather convincingly, by the United States. Golfers across this country will be very much hoping that the Ryder Cup returns to British soil in 2023, in the hands of the European winning team. Shooting Star hospice, based in Hampton and Guildford, is a children’s hospice charity supporting over 700 children. More information about how you can help them can be found on their website, shootingstar.org.uk.
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