Virtual Golf at Bellshill Golf Club sees half of proceeds support NHS

A whopping total of 160 male, female and junior members entered last Saturday’s inaugural Virtual April Medal, with entry fees used to distribute £160 among the leading players and raise the same amount for the club’s ‘Support The NHS’ fund.

“I was lying in bed one morning thinking virtual golf would be a good idea, let’s try it,” Bellshill GC treasurer James Forrester told the Times and Speaker.

“The management committee at Bellshill consists of 12 people, so I thought there would be at least 12 people play in it and if we were lucky we would maybe get 25 to 30!

“So to get 160 sort of blew me out of the water.

“I’m pleased so many took part. It was a great success.

“Interestingly, the person who won the top prize (£50) donated half of it back to the NHS fund.

“One of the other guys who won a tenner said: ‘Just keep it, put it in the fund’.”

The top five prizes from the Virtual April Medal went to: 1st Andrew Lees 90 (28) 62 (£50); 2nd John P Bradley 74 (11) 63 (£40); 3rd Paul R Burke (BIH) 69 (5) 64 (£30); 4th Thomas Garmory 83 (19) 64 (£20) and 5th David Pillans (BIH) 69 (4) 65 (£10).

All this begs the question, exactly how were these results calculated? We’ll try and explain!

Depending on their handicap, participants’ scores were randomly selected with better players recording scores on each hole of between two and five, compared to between three and nine for the higher handicappers.

All this was done from a spreadsheet which had been set up to generate the scores for each player taking part.

“It does that for all 18 holes and just adds up the 18 scores,” James said.

“Each player has their club handicap, so the computer takes off this handicap to decide the final results.”

Costing £2 per entry, the virtual medals will continue to run at Bellshill GC as long as the course is closed during the coronavirus lockdown.

Members can book their time slot online.

As the competitions continue on a weekly basis, 50 per cent of the proceeds raised will keep going to the NHS, under siege just now.

Once the coronavirus crisis has abated, Bellshill GC officials are planning to offer green fee discounts and complimentary fourballs to NHS staff as a ‘thank you’ for their sterling efforts during the pandemic.

Loyalty cards will be topped up during the course of next week.

If any winner wishes to denote all or part of their winnings to Bellshill GC’s Support the NHS fund please let the club know at [email protected]

The next Virtual Golf competition for Bellshill GC is the Keep Your Distance Stokeplay which will be played this Saturday, April 11.

Book your tee slot through the online Club V1 members’ hub.

Booking is open until Friday lunchtime.