Golf, celebrities and drama – no, we’re not talking about Harrison Ford, but the British Chamber of Commerce Denmark’s Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at Ledreborg Palace Golf Course.
Following on from previous years in which company teams have contested the event, the chamber this year joined forces with Red Barnet, the Danish branch of Save the Children, which attracted a long list of celebrities to partner the corporate players.
Celebrity matches
The day started off with the participants meeting for a golfer’s breakfast – half of them were still asleep but everyone was in a cheerful mood – before heading out for some warm-up swings on the range.
By this time most had learnt the identity of their celebrity player. It was a varied line-up, including former heavyweight boxing champ Brian Nielsen, a fearsomely good player by all accounts, and three-time Danish Eurovision representative Kirsten Siggaard Andersen.
Prizes from BMW
By the time the groups headed out onto the course, there was a distinct flavour of competition in the air. Not only could anyone conceivably win (thanks to the Stableford scoring system), there were a multitude of prizes on offer courtesy of the chamber’s main sponsor, BMW.
One good shot, and you could be closest to the pin or the winner of the longest drive, and even the beginners got in on the action. Following an introductory golf lesson, they played a short tournament.
A good day for all
Mariano A Davies, the president & CEO of the chamber, enjoyed a splendid day as organiser and a participant.
“The British Chamber was very pleased this year to host the first in a future series of Annual Celebrity Golf Tournaments in support of Red Barnet (Save the Children Denmark),” he said.
“The celebrities, the chamber members and guests had a very good day, which included good weather and quality gifts from our event sponsor BMW.”
Additional sponsors included Ernst & Young and The Hempel Foundation.
Raising awareness
Also among the winners on the day, of course, was Red Barnet. All the proceeds made were donated to the foundation which works hard to provide emergency assistance to children in crisis regions and promote children’s rights, including their right for schooling, and safety across the world.
Jonas Keiding Lindholm, the acting secretary general of Red Barnet, was grateful for the donation.
“Children are the future of our world,” he said.
“Sadly, a generation of children around the world risk never realising their full potential due to poverty, deprivation and conflict. Save the Children is thus grateful for the commitment of sponsors and celebrities at the British Chamber Golf Tournament to improving the plight of children. Together, we will be making a better tomorrow by bettering the lives of children today.”
At the 19th hole
The day ended with a dinner at the clubhouse and a well-deserved drink to cool down after an intense round.
And no matter whether they won a prize or not (and there were a lot!), everyone could return home with a tan and a smile on their face, blaming any golfing misfortune on the course.
After all, it is the only one in Scandinavia designed by Sir Nick Faldo, a British golf legend who is gaining a reputation for arranging incredibly difficult courses!
(all photos by: Ella Navarro and Luisa Kyca)
