Once again, the sun was shining at Celtic FC Foundation’s annual Golf Day last Friday, as Renfrew Golf Club played host to the event for a ninth time.
A magnificent net total in the region of £12,000 was raised, which will support our suite of Ability Counts projects.
The event was sponsored by GMG Contractors Ltd – an award-winning, multi-disciplinary provider in the construction industry – and we were delighted to welcome a GMG team who took part on the day, playing alongside Celtic legend and Club Ambassador, Tom Boyd.
And Tom was not the only former Celt in attendance, as we were also joined by Stephen McManus, Simon Donnelly and Barry Robson, who teamed up to take on 24 other teams, all competing for the coveted Golf Day trophy.
The day kicked off with breakfast rolls in the Clubhouse before the obligatory group photo at the 10th hole, followed by tee-off at 10am.
Following the golf, attendees then enjoyed a spot of lunch before a fantastic Q&A with the former Celts, led by our host Gerry McCulloch, as each shared stories from their time with the Club.
The scores were then tallied and this year’s winners were announced. Congratulations once again to Mark McKendrick, Connor McKendrick, Josh McKendrick and Thomas McLaughlin, who posted the best score of the day.
Along with the trophy, they’ll also enjoy a fourball at Turnberry’s Robert the Bruce course, kindly donated by Foundation supporter Pat Dunese.
After the prize giving, guests watched a video piece showcasing some of the participants who’ve benefited from our projects and then heard from Fiona Dainty, Learning and Development Office with the Foundation, who highlighted the importance of the support received through events such as the Golf Day.
Proceedings were then wrapped up with a wonderful auction and prize draw, as we aimed to raise as much as possible for our Ability Counts projects.
Originally designed for children and young people with Down’s Syndrome, Ability Counts is grounded on a simple model of inclusivity, companionship and most importantly, fun.
Through physical activity, sport and team-based play, our sessions allow participants a sense of freedom, affording them opportunities to express their feelings in a relaxed, comfortable environment.
Ability Counts has gone on to include a group of multi-award-winning strands that are cherished by the Foundation.
Our Glasgow delivery now also includes strands for children with Autism and young adults with either complex physical or learning disabilities.
In addition, we now provide sessions in Donegal, Derry and Mayo for children with Down’s Syndrome.
The project, fully funded by Celtic FC Foundation, makes a profound and lasting difference to the lives of many individuals and families. Over the years, hundreds of individuals have attended and some current participants have been there since the very start.
Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, expressed his thanks to all of those who contributed to the event, saying: “We’re delighted that our annual Golf Day was once again a magnificent success.
“The funds raised will make a big difference to the lives of the participants that we support through our Ability Counts projects. Huge thanks to GMG Contractors Ltd. for sponsoring the event.
“Thank also to all of the golfers for joining us, including the former Celts – Tom, Stephen, Simon and Barry.
“And thank you to all of those who donated items for our auction, prize draw or as tournament prizes, including – Pat Dunese, Topgolf Glasgow, Brian Mellon of Avoca Wealth Management, Charlie Mulgrew, Munish Sharma, Ewan Murray, the R&A, Stephen Duncan, Jonny Sharp, Dominic Farr, Stephen Gallacher and many, many more – as well as Bell & Bain, who kindly donated printed materials for the day.
“Finally thanks as always to our hosts at Renfrew Golf Club for looking after us once again.”
To register your interest in our 2025 Golf Day, please email cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk or call 0141 551 4321.