TV presenters Ant and Dec are well CHUF-fed to be heading a field of celebrity golfers in a charity fundraiser at the prestigious Close House and will be joined by Close House’s touring pro Lee Westwood.
The Geordie duo will be joined by a host of other big names when they participate in the CHUF (Children’s Heart Unit Foundation) Celebrity Golf Challenge & Gala Dinner – Million Dollar Challenge, on May 19.
The day will see more than 200 players competing on both the resort’s two courses – Colt and Filly – and the opportunity is there for 150 amateurs to sign up to play alongside the 50 celebrities.
What’s more, the par-three ninth hole on the Colt course will see the celebrities taking part in a charity ‘One Million Dollar Shot’ contest, while the amateurs can win a new car on the same hole.
Amateurs have provided sealed bids for their choice of celebrity partner and, with the proceeds from that process and two auctions – one silent – Close House owner Graham Wylie and charity officials hope to raise a substantial sum for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at Newcastle’s FreemanHospital.
Wylie said: “We are aiming to raise £1m for the unit and to make a real difference to the children and families who are being treated at the FreemanHospital.”
Other celebrities who have confirmed their participation include footballers Alan Shearer, Gus Poyet, Les Ferdinand, Shay Given, Lee Bowyer, Dean Saunders, Rob Lee, Iain Dowie, Ryan Taylor and Peter Beardsley; Strictly legend Anton Du Beke; super-model Jodie Kidd; sports broadcasters Clare Balding, Dan Walker, Max Rushden, Ian Payne, Mike Cattermole and Georgie Bingham; snooker’s original ‘jester from Leicester’, Willie Thorne; racing legends Mick Fitzgerald, John Francome, Willie Mullins and Barry Geraghty; athletes Allison Curbishley and Jonathan Edwards; former Yorkshire and England cricketers Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Darren Gough; and daytime TV personality Jeremy Kyle, among many others.
Spectators can attend what is sure to be a hugely entertaining day’s golf by purchasing a course entry pass costing £20, available from the golf shop at Close House, the No19 restaurant or from the resort’s golf services team.
Wylie added: “We’d like to thank not only those generous people who have bid to participate in the day but also the sponsor companies, without whose support this massive venture would have proved even more difficult.”
Those companies include Worldwide Hole ‘N One, which provides the hole in one insurance for the ‘One Million Dollar Shot’ contest and the car; European Golf Challenge, which organised the ‘beat the lady pro’ challenge; the Benfield Motor Group, which has sponsored the car on each course’s hole-in-one challenge; and Barrington Ayre – Cotswold tailor to the stars who provided the Shirtettes, the young ladies who will be measuring players for a bespoke shirt from shirtsmart for the nearest-the-pin prizes.
For further information, or to find out how to participate in the silent auction please visit:
