Golf 2s

“Is your club running the SPARKS NEXT 2s alongside its competition programme?

Please encourage all to join me in going for more gold –

this time the golden dream of a healthy future for children everywhere”

Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, SPARKS Vice-President

• If your club pro already runs a 2s sweep, our competition can feature in addition to it – indeed, the Champion Fundraising Club in 2002 and 2003 does precisely that
• You can celebrate another champion in your club– maybe even a national champion – though not quite Olympic just yet
• It will give your members more prizewinning opportunities
• It is open to men’s and ladies’ sections – separately or together – indeed a number of ladies challenged at the top of the 2002 and 2003 Championships, including the runner-up.
• It can be tacked onto your existing event calendar without the need for additional play
• SPARKS will handle much of the procedure to save an extra burden for your competition administrator
• Your club can commence SPARKS 2s at any stage in the year
• Your members will stand a greater chance of winning prizes and national success if you start as soon as possible
• You can continue with plans you already had for a Captain’s Charity without any conflict
• It will afford you and your members the chance to claim even greater charitable support by also helping SPARKS to raise money for medical research to help children be born healthy and stay healthy!
• Promotional and administration costs are being covered by sponsorship from Next Plc, the leading brand in high street and home shopping

To register your club for the SPARKS/NEXT Golf2s click on the logo below, or call direct on 020 7340 0678. Alternatively see the event format section below.

I really hope your club will join me in supporting this most worthy cause and give your members more prizewinning opportunities into the bargain.

It’s a win-win situation.

Yours truly

Sir Steve Redgrave CBE

EVENT FORMAT

The concept encourages players to try to score more 2s during the whole year.

•  Based on the ‘ball sweep’ whereby a player can win from SPARKS a guaranteed prize in balls (club may nominate 3 or 6 x the Dunlop Low Compression which helped John Daly to win again on the USPGA Tour this year) each time he/she scores a gross ‘2’ in an event.
•  This applies whenever he/she pays to enter SPARKS 2s
•  SPARKS 2s can operate alongside any competition where the individual score is recorded on a card (ie. including fourballs but excluding foursomes/greensomes).
•  SPARKS supplies a stock of balls from which your club can allocate prizes instantly
•  Balls can be supplied with SPARKS logo or without for those who wish to swap locally
•  The major difference is that a league table for your club is maintained by SPARKS through the calendar year
•  This determines your Club 2s Champion who receives a prize from SPARKS to commemorate the success.
•  SPARKS also determines the National 2s Champion by maintaining a league for all participating clubs throughout the UK
•  To encourage full participation from golfers of all standards the time-honoured method of ‘levelling the playing field’ through players’ handicaps is factored into your club league by SPARKS
•  Similarly the number of par 3 holes on a course is factored into the National League
•  The National Champion is invited to attend an awards ceremony at SPARKS Annual Golf Dinner in January 2005 to receive the star prize in person.

•  In addition to the club’s own competition fee, SPARKS recommends clubs to charge a minimum of £1.50 to enter SPARKS 2s
•  Some may choose to charge £2 or £1
•  If your club pro already runs a 2s sweep you can still run SPARKS 2s for £1.50 but retain 50p of the fee for the pro so as not to detract from his/her business.
•  Your members may get maximum chances to score in the league (club and national) if starting in January and linking SPARKS 2s to as many competitions as possible
•  This obviously increases the potential funds raised for SPARKS, which is great news!
•  If the league is keenly contested it may also encourage more entries for your own events during the not-so-pleasant golfing conditions of winter.

•  The most successful fundraisers are also invited to SPARKS Annual Golf Dinner to receive a prize in person
•  The national league tables are featured on SPARKS website and as the site develops we also hope to display club leagues so your members can keep a check on their own progress and an interest in the cause to which they are contributing.

Click on the logo below to register your club or call direct on 020 7340 0684

31/05/04

Is It George’s Turn?

With defending National 2s Champion Andy Bell carrying a leg injury during the Spring months of 2004 it was Strathmore GC club mate George Turnbull who opened his account in style with four 2s in January. He then added another three 2s in April. Having finished runner-up last year he must be one of the favourites.

Eagles Landed

This year’s first two eagle 2s were both sighted in April but at opposite ends of the UK. Dean Weeks recorded his at Chartham Park GC (Sussex) while Tony Robertson at Strathmore GC (Perthshire) bagged one north of the border.

Lively Ladies

Right from the outset of 2004 lady players have been featuring in 2s. Mandy Dove lead Chartham Park’s ‘mixed’ league when her January 2 off 29 handicap scored 11 club points. By the end of April clubmates Lesley Reeve, Anita Chick, Christine Plawecki and Maggie Ellis had each scored two 2s and filled four of the top six places. Jill Kerr at Bush Hill Park GC Ladies was even more prolific with one 2 in February, two 2s in March, and one more in April to open up a comfortable early lead in their club league.

Charting Further Success

It will come as little surprise to regular 2s followers to see Chartham Park GC leading the National Fundraising League right from New Year. Chris Dougan there won the Top Administrator Prize for January, March and April while never having scored a SPARKS 2 himself. Having won the title in 2002 and 2003, the club’s level of participation has proved tough for others to challenge but the support of all our 2s clubs is greatly appreciated. For 2004 we have four new clubs and one returning after a one-year break.

SPARKS THANKS ALL CLUB ADMINISTRATORS AND ALL PARTICIPATING.

IF YOUR VICE-CAPTAINS ARE LOOKING FOR A WORTHWHILE AND PROACTIVE CHARITY PARTNER FOR THEIR YEAR IN OFFICE, SPARKS HAS PLENTY OF GREAT IDEAS ON AND OFF THE COURSE AND WOULD LIKE TO HELP THEM MAKE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON THIS AND 2s TO FRIENDS IN OTHER CLUBS OR MENS/LADIES SECTIONS.