WEYMOUTH Golf Club’s popular Charity Week of Golf will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The seven-day festival has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for worthy causes throughout the area since it began, and once again the club is looking forward to another great event this August.

A club statement said: “In 1989, the professional at Weymouth Golf Club, Des Lochrie, approached the club committee with the idea of organising and administering a charity week of golf competitions.

“The aim was to raise and distribute money for local charitable causes and deserving individuals in the Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester areas.

“The initial feeling within the club committee was that it was a non-starter, however, after much discussion it was agreed that a three-year trial period could be organised, to be administered by a special committee formed for the purpose.

“The success of the charity week can be judged by the fact this will be the 25th year providing a lot of enjoyment for competitors and spectators, and having distributed approximately £200,000 to deserving and charitable causes along the way.

“Today the same golf professional is still a leading member of the charity committee.”

The programme of events, which will run from August 16-22, is as follows:

Saturday, August 16: Men’s Open 4BBB – 18-hole Stableford competition with a maximum handicap of 24 (no juniors) and handicap allowance of ¾.

Sunday, August 17: Mixed Open – 18-hole greensome competition, maximum handicap of 24 (men) and 36 (ladies), teams of two (one male, one female), handicap allowance ½ of combined.

Monday, August 18: Ladies’ Open Scramble – 18-hole medal competition for teams of four, maximum handicap 36, handicap allowance of 15 per cent combined.

Tuesday, August 19: Seniors Open – Three-man team event (two scores to count), 18-hole stableford competition, maximum handicap of 28, handicap allowance of ¾, and entrants to be aged 60 or over.

Wednesday, August 20: Course closed in morning (preparation for Pro-Am).

Thursday, August 21: Charity Pro-Am.

Friday, August 22: Weymouth Open Scramble – 18-hole medal competition, teams of four, maximum handicap of 24 (men) and 36 (ladies).

To enter any of the competitions or for more details about Charity Week, contact Des Lochrie on 773997 or email des.lochrie@foremostgolf.com.

Fellow committee members Bob Mico (789103, micomotors@btconnect.com) and Geoff Cowling (821524, geoffcowling@talktalk.net) can also be contacted.

The organisers would also like to hear from anyone interested in sponsoring a hole, the putting green or driving range, or donating prizes for the raffle and tombola.