South Wales Seniors Golf Classic marks 23 years of raising funds for lifesaving service!

One of Wales Air Ambulance’s long-standing supporters, the South Wales Seniors Golf
Classic, has helped raise an incredible £144,000 for the Charity over the past 23 years.
That is equivalent to the cost of 41 combined lifesaving missions by air and road.
“It’s an extraordinary amount of money,” said Clive Evans, Secretary of the South Wales
Seniors Golf Classic.
“We could not believe it when we were told at the start of the season, it took our breath away.
It makes you feel so proud; to know it is making a lifesaving difference.”
The event launched in 2003, with Wales Air Ambulance named as the chosen Charity for life,
starting off with sixteen teams, it now has sixty-four taking part.
Reflecting on that first season, Clive, 72, said: “Two golfer’s lives were saved by the air
ambulance, then the following year a few more golfers were saved again.
“The committee decided that for however long ‘the classic’ lasted, everything we did would
go to the service.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the
patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their
illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air
Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to
keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled
NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood
transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel
the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency critical care.
Clive who has been a member of the South Wales Seniors Golf Classic committee for six
years and secretary for the last four years said: “We know people who have benefited from
Wales Air Ambulance, we have heard the stories of past patients, and it just makes you want
to do more.
“We introduced this year a home-and-away format in the opening round, a system that has
proven extremely popular and works brilliantly for both clubs and players.
“We teed off the season slightly earlier, beginning in February, which gave us a valuable
head start and time for clubs to arrange both matches and kick start our fundraising efforts.
“The aggregate score from the two matches is then calculated, with the winning team
progressing to the next stage. From there, the competition moves through the second and
third rounds before reaching the quarterfinals and beyond. On top of that, there is the Claret
Jug, and the Howel Craven Cup.”
Clive who admits he was a ‘late starter’ to golf said: “Throughout the season, we have been
asking people to bring something along for the raffle. We charge up to £5 pound a strip, and
that alone has raised around £1,500.
“On the 3 rd of September, the Finals and Presentation Dinner took place at the Grove
Porthcawl, with 80 people in attendance. We had a silent and open auction, hosted by our
main sponsor Fine Wines with lots of lovely lots, which raised further funds.”
He added: “While trophies recognise achievements on the golf course, the most significant
presentation of the evening reflects the true purpose behind everything we do as an
organisation.
“It is fantastic that at the end of the night we presented a £11,000 cheque to the Wales Air
Ambulance, which makes it all worthwhile.”

‘Family always comes first’ for the grandfather of one, with grandson Owain a priority. But
when he is not on babysitting duties, Clive always heads to the golf course or starts planning
the 2027 schedule.
He has “nothing but praise for the ‘fantastic team’ who make the South Wales Seniors
Classic happen each year” and continued: “We really could not do it without the clubs,
players, sponsors and of course or family and friends. A huge thank you must go to them for
making it such a success.”
Christian Sullivan, Regional Fundraising Manager for South West Wales said: “The South
Wales Seniors Golf Classic is such a fantastic event, and we are so grateful that we get to be
part of it each year.
“This year marks a twenty-three-year fundraising partnership, which is extraordinary. The
event has raised an incredible £144,000, since 2003, and continues to pledge support to our
lifesaving service.
“Wales Air Ambulance relies on loyal supporters, like the South Wales Seniors Golf Classic,
to help us make sure that we continue to be there for the people of Wales, whenever and
wherever they need us.
“Every pound raised this season, will go on to make a lifesaving difference. Diolch yn fawr!”