GVA Charity Golf Day 2026
On Thursday 18th June 2026, GVA held a charity golf day at Silkstone Golf Club in Barnsley — raising money for Overgate Hospice, with plenty of laughs, a few “bandits,” and one unforgettable drive along the way.
After a week of mixed weather, the team arrived on site to not a cloud in the sky. Rolling hills, GVA flags flying high, and the promise of a great day ahead — the scene was set for an idyllic mix of golf and charity fundraising.
Golf teams from across the network were welcomed from 9am, greeted by breakfast, refreshments and a chance to catch up. Overgate Hospice kindly attended the event, organising a raffle and prize hole entry, registering golfers, and handing over scorecards and GVA goodie bags.
Everyone was in fine spirits as teams climbed into their golf buggies and headed out for 18 holes around 11am. Throughout the day, golfers were kept hydrated by a well-stocked hospitality refreshment vehicle. For some regular players, the standard of golf was high — but for many, the time spent searching for balls in the rough became a regular feature.
Prizes and Trophies
As part of the competition, there were plenty of trophies and prizes up for grabs. The standout was a bright orange GVA Robin Reliant, on offer to anyone who scored a hole-in-one on the ninth, right next to the clubhouse.
Other prizes and trophies on the day included:
- 2 x Nearest the Pin
- 1 x Longest Drive
- 1 x Nearest the Line
- First, second and third place teams
- The coveted GVA Golf Day Jug
The Ninth Hole Showdown
As the evening drew in and the final teams made their way back to the clubhouse, everyone tucked into a hearty meal and a chance to reflect — and laugh — at the best and worst play of the day. When the scorecards came in, there were a few raised eyebrows about the accuracy of scoring, with the word “bandits” doing the rounds.
After a short presentation from director Luke Kendall, a first-place tiebreaker was announced. The two top teams of four were challenged to land closest to the ninth pin, from eight balls in total, to settle the title. Over 60 golfers gathered around the tee — the camaraderie was fierce, but nothing compared to the pressure facing those teeing off.
The ninth is a par three, lined with trees to the right and a water trap three-quarters of the way down the short drive. Given the standard of golf on display so far, it was perhaps no surprise that most balls ended up in the trees or the water. Only one of the eight balls made it across the green, for a debatable win.
With the group still gathered round the tee, Luke laid down a further challenge: first ball on the green wins £100, with every £10 entry going to Overgate Hospice. Plenty of golf heroes stepped up, and every scuffed attempt was met with cheers from the crowd — by this point, it was fair to say the hospitality refreshment vehicle had done its job throughout the day.
As the laughs continued and the balls kept finding the water, an adult in the crowd stepped forward with a tenner on behalf of Ruben — a young golfer enjoying a round at Silkstone — giving him a shot at what now seemed an impossible task. He took his position, and quiet fell among the group as he settled into his drive. Close — but not quite.
Then a voice came from the crowd: “I’ll donate a grand to Overgate if he makes the green.”
On that, the tenners started flowing from the generous crowd. Everyone wanted to see this play out, cheering Ruben on for the win. On his third attempt, in total silence, he composed his shot — one final look, and the ball took flight, dropping just short of the green. With over 60 adults shouting “come on Ruben,” the ball carried its pace up the lip of the green and settled just short of the pin. The place erupted.
Not only had he picked up the £100, he’d also secured £1,000 for charity — and the kindness didn’t stop there, as other golfers came forward, handing him money to back his future golf career. A huge congratulations to Ruben for his fantastic drive and his willingness to take on the challenge, and to everyone who backed him. This generosity set the perfect tone for a superb day — people coming together to go above and beyond, no matter how bad their golf might be.
Overgate Hospice
GVA is a long-time supporter of Overgate Hospice, with several notable fundraising events held over the last year. The Charity Golf Day also fell within the same week as our annual Summer Party, where we once again raised funds for Overgate.
We’re delighted to share the totals raised across both events:
Golf Day: £3,755.90 (including a donation from Jonny Whitworth)
Summer Event: £1,986.58
Total: £5,742.48
