We wanted to do something a bit special this summer. An event that didn’t seek huge publicity but did seek to bring the pure enjoyment and thrill of playing golf on a great Irish course with friendship, fun and a good cause high on the agenda.

That’s what the first Abbotswood Galgorm Pro-Am Invitational aimed for and thanks to the hard work and support of those who organised it and took part, it’s exactly what we got. In fact, it was better than we hoped for. Decent weather helped, as did the participation of Tom McKibbin. Gracious and generous as always, the Abbotswood legend and LIV Golf Legion XIII star set the tone for the entire event, hot on the heels of a strong finish at LIV’s UK tournament the previous day.

The championship Castle course was impeccably presented as always and the golf was (mostly) equally as good, particularly by PGA professional and DP World Tour winner Simon Thornton whose -2 total took the top pro prize, with investment boutique FL Partners taking the team honours back down to Dublin thanks to an impressive 86-point total. But the most important result of all was the £12,000+ we raised for NI Hospice along the way.

What started months ago as an idea and a conversation between Abbotswood and Galgorm became a truly memorable event with 16 professionals and 64 amateurs enjoying a great day’s golf on one of Ireland’s best parkland courses, with Galgorm’s immaculate hospitality fuelling the craic throughout the day and extending it well into the evening. It was our first, it definitely won’t be our last.