Ahole in one for Sir Ed’s Himalayan Trust
For those wanting to release their inner Happy Gilmore this spring, Fai Tongdethsri has the perfect opportunity.
Though you won’t be playing for big bucks, prepare to make big swings for a good cause.
University of Waikato PhD student Fai Tongdethsri is organising a charity golf tournament on November 13.
Teams of four will play in the mixed ambrose event for 18 holes at the St Andrews Golf Course from 12.30pm.
And after covering the cost of course hire, all of the money raised will go to Himalayan Trust New Zealand.
Tongdethsri, 23, is a golf scholar on the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme.
She has played the sport for 13 years and Saint Andrews is her home club.
In February next year, she will travel to the Khumbu Valley of the Everest Region in Nepal as part of the 2017 Step Higher Award, run by the university.
There she will follow in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary.
‘‘At lot of people know Sir Ed as the man who climbed Everest, but he did a lot philanthropic work,’’ Tongdethsri said.
‘‘I aspire to follow in the footsteps of Sir Ed and continue the work that was most valuable to him.
‘‘To Ed, his greatest achievement was not climbing Everest, but helping the people of Nepal.’’
Tongdethsri will be making the trip with three other scholars, but prior to the journey, she wants to fundraise for the Himalayan Trust – an organisation that is a legacy of Sir Ed.
She hopes the mixed ambrose golf event will bring at least 20 teams to the fore to support a Kiwi legend.
Golf is also a sport Kiwis are good at, she said, with players Lydia Ko and Danny Lee putting New Zealand on the world stage.
Tongdethsri has also represented New Zealand at the 2012 trans-Tasman and is a Waikato Golf Senior Women’s representative.
Entry fee for the charity golf event is $30 per person or $120 per team. There will be prizes and competitions on the day.
To participate, phone 021 0277 9530 or email tt125@students.waikato.ac.nz ideally by November 6, or to donate, visit: https:/ /givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/ stephigher2017