The Els Club Charity Challenge raises USD 90,000
- Thursday, 29 January 2009
- 1 Comments
The Els Club Charity Challenge
The inaugural Els Club Charity event has raised 90,000 USD for autism and a local Dubai golf charity, after challengers got the chance to play Ernie Els over one hole at Dubai Sports City.
Autism is a lifelong disorder which impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others, and became part of Els' life after his son Ben, now aged six, was diagnosed with the disorder.
Nine amateur golfers, each representing a local sponsor, competed, and on each hole a 10,000 USD charity donation from the sponsor was the prize for one or other of the designated charities – Els’ Autisms Charity or the Shaikh Maktoum Foundation - depending on whether Els or the amateur won the challenge, with the amateur benefiting from a full handicap allowance.
“It’s been good fun today,” said the three-time Major winner. “I really appreciate the support that both Dubai Sports City and Golf in Dubai have given autism today.
“It means a lot to me. I am sure that the funds will be put to good use and I would like to thank all companies here in Dubai who supported today’s event.”
Results:
Ernie Els beat: Lee Tabler (representing Troon), Jim Muldoon (represeing Arcapita), Duleep George (representing Gulf News) and Ronnie Corbett (representing Golf in Dubai)
Ernie Els lost to: Rodney Marsh (representing Emirates Airlines), Nic Bruwer (representing Dubai Duty Free), Surender Kandhari (representing Dubai Sports City, Al Dobowi Group, First Group, Ten Sports, BMG Middle East Development), Farbod Dowlatshahi (representing Delwood) and Colin Baxter (representing Hydroturf).
Where next?
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Equipment news: Modern putters guide
Reader comments
Add your commentsFebruary 09 15:29
Ron Canale
Thank you for doing this event and raising all that money. I hope it helps families as well as research. I have a 11-year-old girl with autism and she doesn't speak anymore. I haven't heard the word daddy for seven years, it's hard for people to understand what it's like living with autism.You are trapped just like the kids in their bodies they can't express.You can't go to a simple dinner with the family because your child can't deal with all the people around them than they have a meltdown then people think you can't disciple your child or you're bad parents. Forget vacations, my girl can't sit on plane for hours. I don't know if my little girl will ever be able to take care of herself. Here in Tucson, Arizona I started a golf tournment four years ago and over the years we have raised appox.120,000. We opened a center here and now families get all the help they need so thank you for what you have done and keep up the good work. Maybe we can beat this thing.