Local people and businesses came together on Friday, 3rd October at Thurlestone Golf Club to hold a golf day in support of the South Hams Appeal for the South West Coast Path.

A strong turnout of players, plus great support from businesses including; Bartons Solicitors as lead sponsor and the South Sands Hotel and Thurlestone Hotel provided sponsorship and great prizes. Players travelled from far and wide to enjoy the day, and with the sponsorship and on the day support of Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club, plus a refreshing pit stop on the 9th thanks to St Austell Brewery, the event was a great success, raising a total of £3,500. 

SWCPA Winners 

1st Bill Ford & Lee McEvoy with 42 and 22 on back nine 
2nd Geoffrey Clements & Paul James with 42 and 20 on back nine 
3rd Steve Seward & Craig Graham with 42 and 19 on back nine 

Back in May, Devon County Council identified around £80,000 of urgent repair works to the South West Coast Path between Dartmouth and Bantham, however work to repair the damage caused by storms and to reinstate lost sections of the path was over and above what could be funded out of the path's maintenance budget. 

The South West Coast Path Association, a registered charity, raised £60,000 from the Coastal Communities Fund towards the repairs but this was dependent upon matching funds of £20,000 being raised from businesses and the public. 

The South West Coast Path Association launched a fundraising appeal to raise a minimum of £20,000 for the repair works and to establish a fund for future improvement projects in the South Hams. 

With support from Appeal Partners led by the Thurlestone Hotel and South Sands Hotel, alongside the golf day, the target has been reached and exceeded. The South West Coast Path Association will hold the funds as Devon County Council seek any appropriate permissions and carry out the works needed following this, the funds will be applied to projects in the area.