A “stroke of luck” at charity event as hole-in-one wins golfer a Porsche

Bristol After Stroke was the beneficiary of the Captain’s Charity Golf Day at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club when David Battrick (pictured with team mates, Alan Thoy, Captain, and Peter Scott, Chair of Bristol After Stroke) used his four iron to secure the £60,000 Porsche – which he will now be sharing with the other three golfers he was playing with at the time.

Money raised by the Captain’s Charity Day is being matched by the John James Bristol  Foundation and, together, the amount raised from the day is estimated to be over £30,000. 
 
The hole was sponsored by Citimark Partnership and – fortunately – was insured against the chance of a hole-in-one.
 
“We all put in £10 to enter for this prize,” says David, “but I almost didn't go in for the competition as I couldn't find my wallet! Luckily, I’ve been working on my swing with the club professional recently and his advice must have done the trick – the other three either hit their balls into the rough or into a bunker. Mine just went perfectly and straight into the hole.

“Before we teed off, the four of us agreed to share the prize if we won – I didn’t see the ball go in unfortunately, but after it did I had a difficult job from getting the others to concentrate on the rest of the game!

David, who is 73 and lives in Bishopston, has a 20 handicap and plays a couple of rounds each week at the Clifton Club. “I still work at my daughter’s legal practice Battrick Clark helping to manage the finances, but I try to find time to get to the golf club as well,” he says. “Having had a TIA myself – a transient ischemic attack, which is a low-level stroke – I am an enthusiastic supporter of Bristol After Stroke, as I know the difference it makes to so many local lives.”

Says Rebecca Sheehy, the charity’s Chief Executive: “We are hugely grateful to Alan Thoy who is the Captain of the Bristol and Clifton Golf Club for choosing us as his charity and all those who contributed to make this such a successful day. Raising over £30,000 will make a massive difference to our work as every pound we raise goes a very long way. Over the next 20 years, the number of people surviving a stroke is set to rise by a third. We want to ensure that Bristol After Stroke continues to offer the support that is desperately needed and meets the increasing demand.”