ABU DHABI // Drives the length of nearly 37 football pitches by two players off two holes at this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship translated to more than Dh70,000 going to a local non-profit this week.
As part of the ‘Drive for Charity’ the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Emirates Motor Company both pledged a donation of Dh10 for every yard hit by Ricky Fowler, the tournament’s 2016 champion, and Marcel Siem, a German pro, off the 2nd and 8th tees during the 4 days of the tournament to the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The players total of 3,868 yards off the designated tees resulted in the Council and EMC each donating Dh36,860 to the centre for a total of Dh73,720.
The centre, currently in Al Dhafrah, provides educational and vocational courses to children with special needs and is entirely run on charitable donations.
Children and staff from the centre were presented with a cheque on the 18th hole on Sunday, the last day of the event.
Mr Fowler praised the charity saying anything that helped raise money for such a worthy cause was fantastic.
“I’m just glad I hit a few good ones off the designated tees to increase the donation amount,” he said.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
