Robert Winsor charity golf event to bow out in style

ROYAL BENDINAT G.C.
THE tenth and final Robert Winsor Charity Golf event gets underway on Monday at the Royal Bendinat Golf Club.
It marks the end of an era for Robert Winsor.
Since organising his first charity golf event in the early 1980s, Winsor has spent the best part of three decades raising huge sums for charity both in Britain and Majorca.

Last year, the event raised the phenomenal sum of 286'000 euros.
Yesterday Winsor, as well as representatives of the event's principal sponsors, Engel & Völkers, was in the Royal Bendinat Golf Club to announce details of this year's event.

Winsor said that he was hoping to break through the 200'000-euro barrier once again this year.
Among the celebrities taking part in this year's event are well-known names from the world of football, including Ron Atkinson, Norman Hunter, Mike England, and Ian St. John, former England cricket captain Brian Close, comedians Jasper Carrott, Joe Goodman and Kenny Lynch, ex professional snooker player Willie Thorne, stuntman Rocky Taylor and, from the world of soaps, Vince Earl and Johnny Briggs.

All the celebrities will be introduced by Winsor on Monday night at the Welcome Dinner. The team auction that was inaugurated last year takes place on Monday night as well.

The golf gets underway on Tuesday morning with a Texas Scramble. That evening, Deputy Mayor Kate Mentink of Calvia Council will award the prizes to the winning teams. On Wednesday, the main golf event takes place followed by the Gala Dinner and Auction at the Grand Casino that evening.

AUCTION
A round of golf for three with Sergio García in his home golf club, the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo - home of this year's inaugural Valencia Masters will be at the top of the list for most of those bidding on Wednesday night.

Also up for auction is a graduated diamond necklace weighing 3.02 carat set with round diamonds in 18 carat white gold. This was donated by the Diamond Factory on the Paseo Marítimo and is worth 15'000 euros. Winsor said that depending on his auctioneering skills this could raise enough money for “a bus or two”.

Other items up for auction are a pair of Rafael Nadal's tennis shoes, signed by the star himself, VIP hospitality at July's British Grand Prix in Silverstone, a trip in a private jet to Ibiza followed by a champagne lunch at the Malibu Beach restaurant and a handbag from the MCM collection donated by Claudia Schiffer.

CABARET
The climax of this year's event is the cabaret in the Grand Casino featuring Tom O'Connor, Veronica Lee, one of the stars of the Son Amar show, and local blues and rock band Big Yu Yu.

The total amount raised this year will go towards buying more sunshine coaches, electric wheelchairs and equipment to help make Majorca's disabled children's lives a little bit easier.

Winsor said that thanks to the generosity of international sponsors such as Engel and Völkers, who have contributed 40'000 euros to the event, as well as trophies for longest drive and nearest to the hole, he had already been able to raise 120'000 euros for this year's event. “The important aspect of any charity event is the presentation so that the sponsor can see what we have done with their money,” said Winsor.
How much more can be raised over the next couple of weeks remains to be seen.