GAUDET Luce Golf Club in Droitwich is hosting a fundraiser for the Guide Dogs charity, following on from the success of last year.

The club is organizing a special event on Friday, June 5, where teams of four will be paying £140 to play 18 holes of golf, and enjoy a two course dinner for the charity.

There will also be a prize giving presentation and a raffle to top off the day.

Children from the club’s children’s academy will also be allowed to join in the fun on Saturday, June 6 by paying a donation to play the nine hole course at the club blindfolded.

Paula DuFour, a blind golfer, and a member at Gaudet Luce, will be taking part in the fundraiser with her guide volunteer Becky Hunt.

Ms Du Four said: “I started to lose my sight in the seventies and finally lost all useful vision by 1993. I came on to the golf scene about two years ago. Sight concern Worcester received some funding which was used to enable visually impaired people to learn to play golf with the help of Russell Adams golf academy at Gaudet Luce. I soon got the golfing bug and try to play regularly, and now also have regular lessons at Bromsgrove Golf Club.

Part of Becky’s role involves lining me up correctly for the golf swing. This isn't as easy as it looks. It’s all about getting the blind player and club in the right position to take the shot. We are coming along well.”

Ms Hunt added: “The most difficult part is me finding the ball as obviously I need to watch where it goes.”

Representatives from the Guide Dogs charity will also be attending the event with their dogs and trade stand.

Alison Waterer, Guide Dogs community fundraiser, said: “It is great that we get support from local business and clubs like Gaudet Luce as Guide Dogs receive no Government funding and the cost of each dog from birth to retirement is £50,000.

“Guide Dogs really do change lives not just for guide dog owners giving them independence and freedom of movement like everyone else, but also for volunteers and their families, it is amazing what a difference that bond between humans and dogs can make.

“I really hope we get a good number of people taking part in the golf day, the club raised almost £1,900 last year and hope to bring that total up to £5,000 with this year’s event which will enable them to name a Guide Dog puppy.”

Tee times for the fundraiser are available from 10.04am to 12.04pm. For more information on taking part, write to Alison Waterer Alison.Waterer@guidedogs.org.uk or contact the Guide Dogs Birmingham Mobility Team on 08453 727434 or at birmingham@guidedogs.org.uk

For more information on the charity’s Name a Puppy scheme, visit guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/fundraising/donate/other-ways-to-donate/name-a-puppy-change-a-life/.