Callaway boost for autism charity
Stars 'drive for dough!'
Posted: 10 October 2008
by Golfmagic correspondent
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Watched by JP McManus (left), Padraig Harrington tees off at St Andrews to raise cash for autism charity event.
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Celebrity golfers and professionals turned the old golfing adage of ‘drive for show, putt for dough' on its head when they teed it up at St Andrews for a special fund-raising event using Callaway's longest and straightest driver, the new FT-iQ to, boost Callaway staff player Ernie Els' favourite charity - Autism Speaks.
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Ernie Els receives the cheque from Callaway's Jeff Dodds
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Players were offered the chance to hit the new driver from the 18th tee of the Old Course and, for every yard gained, raised money for the charity.
The total cumulative distance during the ‘Longest Ever Drive Competition' was an amazing 56,498 yards - more than 32 miles - raising an incredible £18,000.
Els, whose son Ben has been diagnosed with autism, said: "I am very grateful to everyone who took part in the competition and helped raise awareness and funds for Autism Speaks. I'd also like to thank Callaway Golf, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the team on the 18th tee for making this happen."
Els expressed particular thanks to Irish businessman JP McManus, who casually peeled off £1,000 in notes to the charity charity as he watched his playing partner Padraig Harrington rip a tee shot down the 18th to boost the fund - though his contract with another manufacturer prevented him from using the Callaway driver.
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Samuel L. Jackson prepares to 'drive for dough'
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Hugh Grant, Samuel L Jackson, Johan Cruyff, Ronan Keating, Shane Warne, Franz Klammer, Sir Ian Botham and Tim Henman were among those who hit fund-raising drives up the 18th fairway and along with former pro Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, head of the ISM sports management team, were greatly impressed with the driver's performance.
"Everyone's enthusiasm to get behind the ‘FTiQ Longest Ever Drive Challenge ' has been outstanding," said Jeff Dodds, Callaway Golf director of marketing, presenting a cheque to Ernie Els. "Thank you to everyone who took part - and hitting such long drives for such a good cause."
About Autism Speaks: Autism is a lifelong disorder affecting how 1 in 100 people understand, communicate and interact with those around them. It can be a lonely and sometimes distressing condition. Autism Speaks is the only UK charity dedicated to raising funds for biomedical research into the causes of autism. For more information please visit www.autismspeaks.org.uk .
Tell us on the forum which charity you support and why. And if you're organising a golf day or charity auction close to your heart tell us about that, too.
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Discuss this story
I direct debit to OXFAM every month. Why ? Because they save people lives, they give hope where there is none and without them more people would die very quickly. It's a shame that Oxfam doesn't carry the glamour of some of the charities out there because they deserve support.
Posted: 03/10/2008 14:51
Bob I suppose that it is pretty obvious which charity is closest to my heart at 72 i.e Age Concern. You must be telepathic as your thread has appeared at EXACTLY the time I have mooted organising a golf day for the Hertfordshire AC. As I was Fundraising Director-on a voluntary basis-of the Charity Back to Work-for almost three years- I know how extremely difficult it is to raise money for any but the major charities supporting children, animals, cancer sufferers and major disasters. May I commend you most warmly for this thread, particularly at the most difficult time for charities almost in living memory with most of them 20% down on donations already this year!
Posted: 03/10/2008 14:58
My charities are all supported because of the help and support we have received as a family, when we needed it most. I contribute to Epilepsy Action because Ben had it when he was younger. I also support Macmillan and Breakthrough because I lost my wife to breast cancer and my father to bowel cancer earlier this year. My Mum is Chairperson of the local Save the Children region, so I also do what I can to help her with her fundraising activities whenever we are in Pompey. Ben and I will be doing the Macmillan Longest Day Challenge next year, so watch this space....
Posted: 03/10/2008 21:43
uk ld series will be donating over 25% of entries to 3 charities which will be confirmed shortly - 1 of them appears above but i cannot name it as yet The problem with charities for me in relation to this event is that there are just so many that you want to support but it isnt possible to support them all. www.uklongdriveseries.com k
Posted: 06/10/2008 00:02
Through our club we support 3 charities: St. Wilfrids hospice Macmillan RNLI We generally have a golf day for each charity, as well as auctions, dinner dances etc. I know St. Wilfrids were presented with a cheque for £10'000 after their golf day.
Posted: 06/10/2008 08:45
RNLI - cos the Governement prefers to give money to the EU and translatie it's leaflets into 45 languages Hospices - cos the Governement prefers to give money to the EU and translate it's leaflets into 45 languages Cancer Research - cos the governement prefers to give money to the EU and to translate it's leaflets into 45 languages
Posted: 06/10/2008 08:57
News, 1st charity of 3 can now be confirmed as Comic Relief. I am treading water waiting on the second major charity I will let you guess who that may be. The UK Longdriveseries 2009 "In support of Comic Relief". www.uklongdriveseries.com Thanks Kenny
Posted: 09/10/2008 15:10
www.uklongdriveseries.com second charity added RNLI, press launch will feature celebs from Comic Relief, RNLI and Radio 1 dj, also europes top 3 longdrivers. Date and venue tbc, this will be near london and there will be a longdrive demo, ceremonial tee shots and trick shots. Comic Relief and RNLI will both appear on the site in the next few days. thanks
Posted: 16/10/2008 20:53
One of the kids I teach has cerebral palsy. He hobbles round in his calipers and also has problems with his left hand/wrist/arm which gives him a big chicken-wing impact position and follow through. It's really inspiring, he's a really lovely kid, 10 years old, always smiling and laughing. He falls over about 3 times an hour but wins the putting comp nearly every time we do one which is fantastic. We were all talking about jobs and careers the other day and with 100% sincerity he said he wanted to be a professional golfer. I nearly had a lump in my throat  , not only as he has no chance, but also that his 3 hours a week give him so much joy. It's seriously made me want to get into giving some free coaching time to kids with problems like this.
Posted: 17/10/2008 10:21
Our am-dram society always does at least one show for charity a year, raising about a grand a time. It is nearly always a local charity that benefits from this. I support UK charities but no longer donate to global charities, as in 40 years I have seen no long term benefit to those nations supported.
Posted: 17/10/2008 12:45
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