Golfers at Wycombe Heights Golf Centre have thrown down a challenge to raise £10,000 over the next year for The Thomas Ball Children's Cancer Fund.

The charity, founded in 1999 by the then nine-year-old Thomas Ball, aims to relieve sickness and distress among children suffering from cancer and their family members.

Over the next 12 months golfer from all sections of Wycombe Heights - men's, ladies and seniors - will join forces to raise valuable funds for the charity, just like they did last year when raising more than £11,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

To launch the year of fundraising the public pay-and-play centre - part of BGL Golf, the UK's leading golf course owner and operator - staged a Ladies Open Day, with Valerie King and Margaret Beal winning the pairs better-ball Stableford event with 45 points.

But most importantly the ladies got the ball rolling by raising £430 towards their target through collection buckets and a raffle, which included a number of prizes such as hampers, vouchers and a fourball at the prestigious Burhill Golf Club, in Surrey.

Russell Stebbings, Wycombe Heights General Manager, said: "The ladies had an exceptional day on the course and were blessed with bright sunshine, the perfect weather for golf at Wycombe Heights as you can enjoy stunning views across The Chilterns.

"The ladies enjoyed morning refreshments in the clubhouse, 18-holes of golf, which included a halfway hut selling Pimms and cakes, followed by afternoon tea and an auction to raise extra funds for the charity.

"I'd like to thank them all for their support and we at Wycombe Heights Golf Centre look forward to working with all the membership and customers alike to support the Thomas Ball Fund."

For further information on Wycombe Heights Golf Centre visit www.wycombeheightsgc.co.uk or for more details on the Thomas Ball Children's Cancer Fund visit www.thomasball.org.uk.