Golfing prowess met with generous hearts at the 2024 GIMA Charity Golf Day, which was held at Belton Woods Hotel & Golf Course in Grantham on June 6th, to raise significant funds for Greenfingers Charity.
The green buzzed with friendly competition as 22 teams of garden industry suppliers and retailers battled it out for the coveted GIMA Golf trophy, now a successful and popular event.
Having conquered the course, golfers enjoyed a well-deserved barbecue on the hotel’s terrace. The day culminated in a prize-giving ceremony and a charity auction, with all proceeds generously donated to Greenfingers which will help them create even more beautiful and therapeutic gardens at children’s hospices across the country.
The all-important results!
Golf
Hex Living emerged victorious at the 2024 GIMA Golf Day, claiming the title with a score of 86 points. Smart Garden and the Zest team displayed impressive skills, finishing neck-and-neck in second place with 85 points each. While the GIMA team may have received the “Wooden Spoon” award for their 56 points, the spirit of friendly competition reigned supreme.
The golf day wouldn’t have been the same without some friendly competition with a fantastic group of golfers from Gardena, Woodlodge, Glee, Ivyline, Pure Print, Henry Bell, Rocketgro, Swift, Treadstone, Graf UK, Grassgains, Vitax, Evergreen, Centurion, Sunshine and Polhill Garden Centres, Premier Decorations, Ames and Charles Bentley.
Beat the pro
In a thrilling “Beat the Pro” challenge on Hole 11, Andy MacMillan, Chris Francis, Alwyn Williams, Liam Barrett, Neil Blake, John Styles, Ben Walton, Tom Lay, Josh Novell, Spencer Goodall, Jon Hotson, and Dan McAlpin emerged victorious! By donating to the cause and placing their balls closer to the pin than the resident professional, they secured bragging rights and helped raise even more money for Greenfingers Charity.
In addition to the “Beat the Pro” competition, Chris Francis claimed victory on Nearest the Pin on the 4th hole, David Stagg on the 8th, Nigel Blow on the 13th, and Jonathan Stobart on the 15th. Jonny Hotson secured the longest drive award on the 18th hole.
Sponsors included Durston Garden Products, Smart Garden, Imprint, Premier Decorations, Elho, Ninja, Meadow View Stone, Primeur & Hornby George PR, Vitax, Swift Cloud, Decco, and Maze.
The fun didn’t stop on the course with a raffle and auction taking place in the evening. Donations and all the fantastic prizes for the raffle and auction came from GIMA, Grassgains, Belton Woods, Greenfingers, Shark Ninja, Evergreen, Premier Decorations, Smart Garden, Fallen Fruits, Rollins Bulldog Tools, Hex Living, Elho, Burgon & Ball, Gardena, Woodlodge, and Capi – a big thank you for their amazing contributions.
GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall said: “The Golf Day is a highlight every year, and it’s always amazing to see everyone having fun competing and raising money for Greenfingers. The teamwork on the course was great followed by the raffle and auction in the evening, and most importantly, we raised a lot of money for a fantastic cause. We’re incredibly grateful to all the sponsors, participants, and generous donors who made this event a success.”
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers Charity added: “From all of us at Greenfingers Charity, a heartfelt thank you to GIMA for another incredible event! The members’ generosity throughout the day – from the golf course to the auction – means the world to us, and even more importantly, to the hundreds of children and families we support.”
For further information please contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk