Members at The Manor House Golf Club will have a very special reason to raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance this year as they commemorate the memory of long-standing former member Phil Mercer.
Club captain Simon Wright had no hesitation in naming the fundraising organisation as the official charity for his year in office after they attended to his friend at the Wiltshire course in September 2021.
Phil, co-founder of Bristol-based company PhilTone, was playing his usual Saturday morning round of golf on September 11, 2021, when he tragically collapsed and died. He was 69.
Simon and his fellow members at The Manor House already have a busy programme of fundraising activities planned over the next 12 months and Phil’s son, Neil, also a club member, joined Simon to help launch his captaincy year at his Captain’s Drive-In event on April 20.
“Phil was a good friend of mine and I played golf with him many times. He had been a part of The Manor House family for more than 20 years and it was tragedy when he passed away just over two years ago.
“What happened to him affected everyone at the club. We were all very keen to do something to celebrate his memory and it was an easy decision to make selecting the Wiltshire Air Ambulance as my captain’s charity.
“The team that attended to Phil were fantastic and they did everything they could to save him. It is a wonderful organisation and I will be doing everything I can to raise as much money as possible during my year in office.”
A group of 88 members gathered around the first tee to watch Simon hit his tee shot down the middle of the fairway and Andy Ryan, club manager at The Manor House Golf Club, is anticipating a busy year of fundraising ahead.
He said: “Phil was a familiar face around the club who was liked by everyone and it was terrible what happened to him. Simon’s decision to select the Wiltshire Air Ambulance as his charity is a lovely way to celebrate Phil’s memory and I would urge everyone to dig deep and donate as much money as they can over the coming year.”
Set in 365 acres of rolling countryside, The Manor House’s acclaimed 18-hole championship course is immersed in the enchanting surroundings of the Cotswolds and is regarded as one of the best layouts in southwest of England.
Designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark, the mature oak and beech trees that line the beautifully manicured fairways, together with the immaculate greens and the River Bybrook meandering through the middle, bring both drama and beauty to the 6,500-yard parkland course.
In addition to the golf club, The Manor House hotel provides an exceptional five-star accommodation for golf breaks. The stately 14th-century country house is full of charm and traditional quirky features. Fifty comfortable, individually styled rooms and suites can be found across the estate, which also includes a picturesque row of cottages.
For more information, please visit: The Manor House Golf Club.