PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou's Mayoral Charity Golf Day turned out to be a massive success as it not only marked the first time this annual charity drive was not funded from municipal coffers, but also the start of the municipality's 2022 Municipal Games.
Bitou Mayor Dave Swart got the golf day off to a good start by hitting the first shot on Friday 3 June at the Skyvilla Hotel overlooking Plettenberg Bay.
The rest of the tournament was played at the Goose Valley Golf Club where the ball got rolling following a shotgun start.
The format of the tournament was a Texas Scramble which saw all members of a team - between three and four - tee off. The team then decides which drive is the best and all play their second shot from the spot where this drive ended up. This procedure continues until the ball is holed.
Each team returns one score for each hole and the team with the lowest score for the round wins.
Before the action got underway, non-golfers were also introduced to the game through a workshop on the driving range with PGA golf pro Daniel Gouws.
"What a blessed, beautiful day we have today," said Mayor Dave Swart.
"This is the first Bitou Mayoral Golf Day that was not funded by the Bitou Municipality, instead funded by participants and sponsors."
The golf day usually takes place over the Easter Weekend, but was this year placed on hold due to lack of funds. Local establishment Sky Villa Boutique Hotel then stepped up and offered their #TeeOff4Tourism brand for the municipality's fundraising efforts, and the rest is history.
Swart said the event was organised by his office, working hand in hand with various stakeholders and partners. "Partners and sponsors from the private sector made a huge contribution to the success of this event."
Duncan Meyer, who heads the Bitou Youth Desk, said all proceeds from the event will go towards a Bitou Youth Fund which will cover various youth initiatives in Plettenberg Bay. Meyer emphasised that the day also kicked off the Bitou Sports Games which will run throughout June.
The aim of the Municipal Games is to revive sport in Bitou communities and it will include various tournaments including rugby, soccer, netball, boxing, cricket and pool.
For more information about the games, contact Meyer on 044 501 3457.
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