Support aplenty for Ryan Gatgens Memorial Golf Day

THE annual Ryan Gatgens Memorial Golf Day is well on its way to being one of the most successful yet, with more than 50 sponsors jumping on board to help raise $100,000 for Hope Bereavement Care.

Set to be held on Sunday (March 12) at the Clifton Springs Gold Club, the annual charity golf day bands the community together to remember Drysdale local Ryan Gatgens who tragically passed in 2019 after a battle with mental health.

To make the event bigger and better than ever before, local Bellarine, Geelong and Surf Coast sponsors and supporters have jumped from the clouds to help back the cause, with thousands of dollars worth of prizes already donated.

Teams will tee off in three separate groups during the event.

The golfing experience is suitable for players of all levels.

Event organiser Daniel Driscoll said the event committee were overjoyed with the response from businesses.

“It’s crazy to see the support so far and it’s certainly going to go a long way,” Driscoll said.

“We’ve got a major raffle which we started about six weeks ago and the top prize is a $5,000 travel voucher courtesy of the Clifton Springs Golf Club.

“We will also have an 85-inch TV in there from Bellarine Flooring which is valued at $2,995 and a $2,500 voucher for Drysdale Mowers.

“More and more people have jumped on board with it this year, including the 25 vendors of the twilight market.

“We are incredibly thankful.”

A huge range of raffle items will be on offer on the day.

Driscoll said that proceeds had gradually been booming each year of the event with more people becoming aware of the event and Gatgen’s story.

“We raised about $55,000 the first year, $70,000 last year and then we are looking to get to that $100,000 target in 2023,” Driscoll said.

“Hopefully if all goes well, we can get to that target.

“It’s definitely dependent on the weather, if it’s a nice day again then we will get a lot more people down to buy raffle tickets and bid on the auctions.”

Alongside the golf extravaganza and inclusion of the twilight market, the event will also include a children’s petting zoo, food trucks and live music.