Golf Club Brings Power To The People Of Oversteps

Golfers at a world famous club have stepped in to ensure elderly neighbours will not suffer another power failure during winter storms.

The Oversteps Care Home in Dornoch, which has 24 residents, lost power this winter in poor weather. Now the Royal Dornoch Golf Club has spent more than £8,000 to buy a diesel generator as a back-up in case the problem arises again in future.

The money was donated from the club’s Captain’s Charity Fund which is built up annually by two fundraising weekends.

The club, which is part of the Highland Golf Links (HGL) marketing partnership, has previously donated £3,000 to the home to buy wheelchairs and table and chair sets to enhance the comfort of residents.

A ceremony was held this week when a cake in the shape of the generator was made for the residents.

Neil Hampton, Royal Dornoch’s general manager, said: “Oversteps provides a valuable service to the people of Dornoch and beyond and we are delighted to give it support in recognition of the work the staff do for our elderly community, many of whom are past members of Royal Dornoch.

“The generator will give both staff and residents peace of mind that they have a back-up in the event of power failures in future.”

Allan Logan, Director of Services to Older People at CrossReach, the Church of Scotland Social Care Council, said: “CrossReach are hugely grateful for the gift of this generator from Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

“Oversteps are particularly well supported within the local community and have established excellent links with the golf club.  This is something which is hugely appreciated by staff in the care home and by CrossReach as an organisation.

“The gift of the generator will greatly enhance our contingency planning arrangements and ensure that instances of inclement weather, such as we encountered this winter, do not disrupt the quality of service to the residents of Oversteps.”

Catriona Taylor, the manager of Oversteps, said: “We are extremely grateful for the continued support that the Royal Dornoch Golf Club has given us over the last few years.  Previously they have donated money to us which has enabled us to purchase new furniture, and Oversteps has been fortunate to have been chosen as the Ladies Members’ Charity for the last 2 years. 

“Not only has the club provided the money for a generator, they also provided practical support by cooking meals for the residents when the power failed.  We have very strong links with the Golf Club as several of our residents are ex-players or life members and we have hosted a joint Golf Reminiscence afternoon for residents and ex-members in the community.”

Royal Dornoch Golf Club is committed to helping good causes in the community.  It recently donated £1,000 from the Captain’s Charity Fund to provide a safe play area for four-year-old Kieran McKelvie-Walker, who suffers from autism, epilepsy, asthma and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast.

Last year the club set up a separate Community Fund to support local groups, using a percentage of the net green fee income from visitors who come from all parts of the world to play the famous links course, and so far has made several donations.

HGL also includes Castle Stuart Golf Links and The Nairn Golf Club, as well as the Kingsmills Hotel and Culloden House, Inverness; and the Royal Golf Hotel at Royal Dornoch.

The group promotes Play and Stay golf packages in the Highlands to encourage golf tourism. See www.highlandgolflinks.com.