aBr November 2014 | Page 84

Social Conscience Charities to the Fore Bobby Locke used to say that you drive for show, and that you putt for dough. And most professional golfers would agree, except maybe John Daly. “Long John”, who acquired his nickname through his long hitting exploits (he is the only golfer to reach the green of the famous 630-yard hole 17 at Baltusrol Golf Club New Jersey in two strokes), has a heart of gold, despite his bad boy image. He plays in many celebrity pro-am charity events, and showed his humanitarian streak early in his career after winning the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in 1991, by donating US$30,000 to the family of a man who died during the tournament due to lightning strike. Daly was just starting his golf career and was not wealthy at the time. O n Thursday 16 October 2014 at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead, Sandton, there were another 123 hearts of gold on display at the Midas annual charity golf day, giving their all in both golf and money to assist Midas to reach their ambitious charity targets, as the needs of society grow exponentially, adding an ever increasing burden on the shoulders of those with a social conscience. No one managed to match John Daly’s driving skills, but all managed to equal his golden heart. aBr was there to put the event on the publishing map: ➲ When it comes to finding sponsors, Sylvia Trott goes into a gallop ➲ When it came to which picture to pick for the fourball shot, it was a ➲ And with prizes galore, it was another random selection random selection ➲ Some of the golfers and guests came from afar, some from Port Elizabeth, some all the way from the USA | words in action 82 november 2014