Bright start as councillors to battle it out on the golf course

Bright start as councillors to battle it out on the golf course

31 May 2017

ROWALLANE councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews are preparing for their charity four ball golf tournament at Bright on June 10.

The duo, who will later this year feature in a BBC documentary about friendship, have raised over £10,000 for a number of charities and organisations and their latest fundraiser will support Down District Home Start and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust which helps families bring home loved ones who have died overseas.

A fundraising golf tournament at Bright, organised by the pair last summer, raised £2,000 and the Rowallane politicians are hoping to exceed that target in just over two weeks’ time.

Their previous charity exploits have included a boxing match, eating challenge, cycle race and rowing races and while a game of golf promises to more leisurely by comparison, the local politicians are keen to secure the bragging rights with a win.

Billy and Terry may represent the DUP and SDLP respectively, but they are good friends who have the interests of the community very much at heart.

The duo are hoping local businesses will again sponsor the holes and that golfers from across the district will sign up to take part. Determined to do well, the local politicians admit they want to be out with the early starters at 8.30am as it could take them a while to get around the course.

“The amount of support Terry and I have received over recent years has been tremendous and we never cease to be amazed by people’s generosity,” said councillor Walker.

“Once again we are supporting two worthy causes and Terry and I have been fortunate to see the excellent work Home Start does across the district, providing key support to families, while the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is a God-send for many families who experience the pain of a loved one dying abroad and then have to start planning to bring them home.”

Councillor Andrews has no doubt the competitive streak will be very much to the fore again.

“We are not the greatest golfers in the world but we both want to win,” he said. “Our last tournament at Bright was a big success and we hope lots of people will join us on June 10 to help raise as much as we can for two key organisations.”

Councillor Andrews, who admitted the politicians’ scorecards will make interesting reading after 18 holes, said while the golf tournament is about having fun, the real winners will be Home Start and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

He added: “We cannot thank people and business owners enough for their support since we started to raise funds for worthy causes. Billy and I want them to all know we are very grateful and that the money they donate really does make a difference.”

To secure a tee times for the June 10 event contact Bright Castle Club, Coniamstown Road, telephone (028) 4484 1319.