THIRTY teams took part in the first-ever Open Golf Competition in aid of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice last week.

With 120 participants, the event raised several thousand pounds for the charity, drawing players from Clydebank, Milngavie and as far as Crieff, Aberdeen and Bristol.

Organisers said there was a spirit of friendly competition to the Texas Scramble tournament, which was followed by a raffle and silent auction, including prizes of golf lessons, fourballs at various clubs, a meal for four at Bi Bi’s in Partick, rounds at high-class venues including Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire and Archerfield Links in North Berwick, East Lothian (worth well in excess of £500).

A hospice spokesman said: “We’d like to say thank you to all the golfers who came from far and wide to take part.

“Many thanks, too, to Clober Golf Club for their hospitality, the condition of the course and the generosity of all the members.

“We are also grateful for the support we received from the local and wider business community.

“Despite the trying conditions, it was just a fantastic day. We are delighted to say the club have agreed that this is now going to become an annual event.”

Graham Wilson, 39, control engineer from Milngavie: “The reason I took part was that my auntie Molly was in the hospice for eight months. I saw first-hand the care and protection that the Hospice provide so I wanted to give something back to them.

“And my dad was the organiser of the event so I had no choice in the matter! Unfortunately the weather was been slightly against us. But the golf course has been in fantastic condition and thanks to Clober GC for that.

“I’d like to thank the hospice for being there for so many different people that have been part of our lives.”

The top three teams were:

Winners – Gordon Maxwell, Clint Maxwell, Eddie Dickinson and Gary Mack (each got £50 voucher for Great Western Golf in Clydebank)

2nd – K McKeever, W McClusky, Kyle McGovern, Jamie Galbraith (Each got £40 voucher for GWG)

3rd - Gordon MacDonald, Jim Kinloch, Peter Kinloch and Alister Raphael (Each got £20 voucher for GWG)