All star line-up at top north east venue event

Ant and Dec, Alan Shearer, Bobby Davro and Lee Westwood are among the celebrity guests, playing in the Have a Heart celebrity golf day at Close House Hotel and Golf club in Northumberland tomoprrow (July 10).

North East entrepreneur Graham Wylie is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the children’s heart unit that saved his daughter’s life, with the second annual Have a Heart Charity golf challenge taking place this year on the championship Colt Course.   

With news this week that the Children’s Heart unit will stay open, after two years of uncertainty, the event is perfectly timed to provide important, and much needed funds to the incredibly talented and highly skilled surgical team who have saved thousand’s of very poorly children’s lives from the North East and beyond. 

Westwood will lead the day, with 33 teams teeing off, each headed up by a celebrity including NUFC Manager Alan Pardew, Ruby Walsh, who rode in the Grand National this year, racing legend Tony McCoy, football pundit Alan Hansen and Newcastle Falcon Ally Hogg who took the winning trophy last year.

Some spectacular prizes will go under the hammer on the night, with a trick golf show in front of Close House early evening.  This will be followed by a three course meal and entertainment provided by comedian Bobby Davro.

Graham Wylie said: “We have more people than ever coming this year, 33 teams instead of 22, and some really great celebrities taking part.  

“The auction is going to be incredibly exciting – a spectacular £31,000 diamond heart necklace has been donated for the auction by Richard Sinton, a £5,000 diamond ring from Berry’s Jewellers, a week’s holiday at the Close House villa in Majorca for eight people, including golf at the top five courses on the island, with flights and chauffeur service!

“Another lot gives exclusive use of Close House for up to 62 people with accommodation, dinner, afternoon tea, breakfast and champagne and there is also an elite sports package where the winning bidder will get the use of a box at Newcastle Racecourse, Newcastle United Football Club and the Falcons.”

Wylie is working towards making Close House Hotel & Golf a top destination to rival Gleneagles and Wentworth.  May 2011 saw the opening of the championship Colt golf course, elite golf academy and state-of-the-art glass clubhouse No 19.  

This along with a further eleven bedrooms in the former stable block, and a glamorous new restaurant Argent D’Or in 18th century Close House brings the venue up to one of the most sought after destinations in the UK.