25 Jun 2025 Community

Putting Heart into Every Swing: £15K Raised for The Kirkwood by Woodsome Golf Club!

Woodsome Hall Golf Club captains Rob Kelly and Claire Howarth have proudly chosen The Kirkwood as their Charity of the Year for 2024/2025, and thanks to their passionate efforts and the generosity of club members, they have raised over £15,300 for the local hospice.

The Kirkwood, based in Kirklees, provides specialist care to those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Both Rob and Claire have personal reasons for selecting the charity, and their fundraising efforts throughout the past year have demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting its vital services.

Claire Howarth, the Ladies' Captain, shared how her own family was supported by The Kirkwood: “They were very supportive and offered myself and my brother bereavement counselling after her death. I have worked in the NHS as a nurse and midwife and appreciate the hospice's vital role.”

Claire led a wide range of creative fundraising events during her captaincy, including: “At the start of the year, we went on a golf trip to Portugal and all the prize money from the members who went on the trip was very kindly donated back to the charity.

“The ladies baked cakes and savouries at various events for members and visitors to the club – proceeds from the days went to the charity.

“I also arranged raffles at most of the events, again for visitors and members, with generous donations being made from either raffle prizes or donations into the tins.

“We had a bridge day and organised raffle prizes for the charity. I arranged a Christmas table decorations event with proceeds going to the charity. We had an auction of ladies’ golf clothes and accessories. We also had two Christmas hampers with raffle tickets going to the charity.

“Very proud and very appreciative of the generosity and help from the members at Woodsome Hall Golf Club.”

Men’s Captain Rob Kelly echoed Claire’s sentiments and spoke of his personal connection to the hospice: “The Kirkwood looked after my dad’s uncle, Frank Hannam, who I was close to. His final days were made as good as they could have been. The Kirkwood is vital, it’s fantastic that the hospice is open to everyone irrespective of background. We should never take it for granted. It never ceases to amaze me that hospices are not funded by the NHS.

“A lot of hard work went in by a lot of people, but it was definitely worth it.”

Rob’s flagship event was the Captain’s Charity Golf Day, followed by a high-profile auction: “The biggest single event was the Captain’s Charity Golf Day with an auction afterwards. Kind donations to the auction included a week in a villa in Barbados, a week at a cottage in Robin Hood’s Bay, a trip on the Northern Belle, a box at Huddersfield Giants, six months’ membership at Big Box Gym, an overnight stay in Woodsome’s Cottage on the Course including a round of golf, two tickets in a box at Huddersfield Town and golf fourball vouchers for Fulford, Delamere Forest, Stockport, Moor Allerton and Fixby.”

Rob and Claire also brought fun and engagement to the golf calendar: “On my Captain’s Day we ran a ‘book’ where members could bet on themselves and on each other. The Pro Shop ran a sweep for the Euros football tournament.

“We sold raffle tickets at both the Ladies and Gents Captain’s Days. We held a ‘Charity Medal’ where all proceeds from the Halfway House went to the charity. We had a Captains’ Charity Bunker, if members went in it, they donated to the charity.”

With the support of the club’s members and friends, the total raised now stands at an incredible £15,300 – a testament to the community spirit at Woodsome Hall and the shared belief in the importance of The Kirkwood’s work.

Rob and Claire’s joint efforts have made a lasting impact and will help ensure that The Kirkwood can continue providing outstanding care and support to those who need it most.