Clifton Springs Golf Club expects record-breaking crowds as it hosts its third annual Ryan Gatgens Memorial Golf Day this Sunday.
Event organiser Daniel Driscoll said he created the event to honour his friend Ryan Gatgens, a popular Drysdale man who lost his battle with mental health in 2019.
Mr Driscoll said he remembered Ryan as a “funny guy” who contributed a lot to the community and coached the local junior football team.
“It (the event) started because a friend of ours, Ryan, lost his battle with mental health a few years ago, so it was just like an idea I had for a Memorial Day,” he said.
“He was really funny to be around and loved his football.
“The younger kids all loved him as a coach and loved to be around him. He had a lot of mates as well and was pretty well known around the community.”
Mr Driscoll said there were two parts to the day’s events, including a golf section open to everyone who wished to participate, and activities catered towards families.
The family side of the event would include a twilight market, fireworks, a petting zoo, live music, food trucks and many more activities for people to get involved.
“There’s three different times to tee off. There’s 7.30am, 10.30am and 1.30pm,” he said.
“All abilities are welcome. Anyone can enter in the golf part and then everyone can come down for the family side of things.
“The raffle is also a massive part of the day, and then we have lots of live auctions and silent auctions with sports memorabilia and things that have been donated.”
Mr Driscoll said his favourite part about the event was getting to see everyone, which included past players of Ryan’s football club and premiership teammates of his.
“It’s like a big reunion for a lot of people,” he said.
“There’s so many people that come from all around the place that people don’t sort of see for a long time and it’s just good to see everyone get together and help out.”
Mr Driscoll said he was thankful to everyone that helped with the event and hoped to raise close to $100,000 in donations for a Geelong-based grief and counselling service.
“We don’t go around hassling people to sponsor. They all approach us to get on board,” he said.
“All the money goes to Hope for Bereavement, which is where Ryan’s family told me that they’d like the money to go towards when I came up with the idea of the day.”
The third annual Ryan Gatgens Memorial Golf Day will be held at the Clifton Springs Golf Club on Sunday, March 12, from 7.30am.
For mental health advice or concerns, 24/7 over-the-phone support is available with Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline at 13 11 14.
