A day in the sun at the Wentworth Charity Cricket Day

‘It’s always sunny in Surrey’ – this was overheard just as Kevin Pieterson was taking to the green to captain his team during an action packed day of charity cricket at Wentworth Club on Sunday. Indeed, one could not have asked for a more glorious day, and setting. The rhododendron-lined driveway that snakes its way to the castellated clubhouse was purring with open top sports cars, as the day kicked off.

This was the first Charity Cricket Day at Wentworth, which will be an annual event for charity. This year’s cause was ‘Impact: Driving for Change, a collaboration with the European Tour Foundation and The Black Heart Foundation.           

With far-reaching connections and a history of successful fundraising activity, the three foundations plan to combine skills, resources and knowledge to provide opportunities and funding for their chosen projects and across the three entities, there will be a mutual focus on youth development and care. Throughout 2019, Wentworth Club will host a series of events to support the initiative, including the annual Captain’s Charity Ball on June 30th, a very special golf event with Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin, and the BMW PGA Gala Dinner on September 14th featuring Sir Rod Stewart.

As the sun rose over the yardarm, the Champagne corks popped, and cricket legends Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vaughan, Brian Lara, Rob Key, Mark Ramprakash and Gladstone Small led the contest as team captains, with Sangakkara’s team winning the final against Vaughan’s by four wickets. A total of £16,000 was raised on the day by members bidding to play in the cricket matches with the legends, as well as a raffle

There was entertainment for all the family, with face paints and a balloon artist for younger spectators, and superior food trucks, in the form of kathi rolls from Brigadiers, and noodles and beef tataki salad from Ten Trinity Square’s Mei Ume. Ten Trinity Square’s owners, the Reignwood Group, bought Wentworth from Richard Caring five years ago, causing some controversy with a membership price hike. The money has gone into an upgrade in the clubhouse, with three restaurants, two bars and a regular Michelin-star guest series.

There are also further offerings for its members. September 2019 will see Wentworth embark on its first ever four-day wine driving tour to France, visiting some of the world’s best Champagne and wine makers including Dom Perignon and Chateau Latour. Members are offered exclusive access to the tour – dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, staying at boutique hotels, guided tours of prestigious vineyards, as well as rounds of golf at exclusive courses such as Les Bordes.

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