Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson has helped to raise around £34,000 for charity following a successful Golf Day and Summer Ball in Nottingham.
The 28 year old Englishman hosted the charity day at Hollinwell Golf Club in Nottingham for 96 golfers and celebrities followed by the black tie Summer Ball for 200 at the Belfry Park Hotel in the city. Proceeds from the day will go to DARE UK.
Wilson has been a strong supporter of DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for the past three years and his two previous Charity Golf Days raised £25,000.
Among the prized items auctioned were the golf bag used by Wilson at The 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club and the putter which he used to great effect as he and Henrik Stenson beat Americans Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim in the second day foursomes.
Wilson also took part in a Question and Answer session with rugby union’s World Cup winner Lewis Moody and former English Test cricketer, Chris Broad, while among the other sportsmen in attendance were England cricketer Paul Nixon and Geordan Murphy of the Leicester Tigers rugby union side.
He said: “It was a wonderful occasion all round and I am deeply grateful to all the sporting celebrities and everyone else who contributed to the success of the day. I hope to initiate some new pilot schemes with DARE next year and between us we aim to get more kids out of the classroom and into the sporting arena.
“There is no better environment for the 12-15 year olds to help shape their futures and the organisation and this project are very close to my heart. I feel very fortunate that golf has allowed me to help others.”