By Brian Crisp
Nomads Golf Clubs across Australia raised more than $175,000 for charities and junior golf in 2023.
Clubs in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast held five successful charity days throughout the year.
Nomads Australia national president Kel Hirini thanked and congratulated the 350-plus Nomads’ members for their time, generosity and efforts.
“Nomads prides itself on giving back to the community,’’ he said.
“This is a great effort across the country, and the money raised will change people’s lives in a real and meaningful way.
“As a club we should be very proud of what we have achieved in 2023.’’
Sydney North raised $62,100 with $49,100 going to Camp Quality and $13,000 going to Jack Newton Junior Golf.
Brisbane raised $38,000 for Empower Golf, a full-service disability recreation not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to facilitate and promote the world’s most inclusive sport for people living with disabilities.
“I chose Empower Golf after listening to Shem’s story (Shem is from Empower Golf) about how golf got his life back on track, gave him a purpose to live and get out and about in the community again,’’ Brisbane vice-captain Andrew McGlone said.
“I really wanted to be able to make a difference in somebody’s life who may not previously have had the opportunity. It is very humbling to see us raise this amount of money and makes me very proud to be part of the Brisbane Nomads. Every member has generously given lots of their time and money towards this charity day.’’
Sydney South raised $27,660.28 with $18,500 going to OzHarvest and $9160.28 going to Jack Newton Junior Golf.
Perth held its annual charity day at Maylands Peninsula Golf Club on the banks of the Swan River.
The club raise $10,600 for Solaris Cancer Care, a community-based healthcare organisation whose Cancer Support Centres are the first of their kind in Australia and offer support, information, education, and complementary therapies to cancer patients and their primary carers.
“Overall, we raised $10,600 for Solaris. It was a very successful day enjoyed by 72 players and money was raised for a worthy cause,’’ Perth vice-captain Rod MacKenzie said.
The Sunshine Coast Club raised $30,000 for Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled and $6,820 for the furtherance of golf.