Fundraisers gave their best shot at the inaugural golf day for Wiltshire Air Ambulance in Bradford on Avon on Friday and raised £2,500.

Twelve teams of four players, including the air ambulance and local businesses, completed the 18-hole course at Cumberwell Park in Stableford format.

The overall winners were The Fore Amigos, a team from Frome.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance had a team comprising paramedics Luke MacCallum, Steve Riddle and Pete Beazer, who is based in Trowbridge, with supporter Neville Smith, and came seventh.

Brewin Dolphin’s Marlborough office was the main sponsor of the event and the company also entered a team, while the ninth hole was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Swindon.

Claire Kelly, head of events and charity services at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are really pleased with the success of our first golf day. Everyone enjoyed it and Cumberwell is a beautiful golf course.

“There was a lovely atmosphere and it was a good day.

“We wish to thank our sponsors, everyone who donated prizes for the raffle and auction and the teams who took part and helped to raise vital funds to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance flying.”

Following the competition, the players enjoyed a three-course dinner where they heard about the work of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Live music was provided by The Will Blake Band and a raffle and auction rounded off the evening, with prizes including a week’s stay in a Spanish villa donated by supporters of the air ambulance; two tickets to Marlborough Jazz Festival with lunch donated by Brewin Dolphin, Marlborough; a scuba diving experience for two people donated by JC Scuba of Swindon; a shooting lesson for two people donated by Barbury Shooting School; and a hamper and brewery tour for two donated by Wadworth Brewery of Devizes.

The day provided a valuable boost for the charity as it receives no Government or national lottery funding and relies solely on donations.

It will take delivery of a new helicopter when its partnership with Wiltshire Police for the joint helicopter ends in December 2014. From January 2015 the charity will have to raise £2.5m a year to keep it flying.

Cumberwell Park member Shaun Kelly, 63, from Trowbridge, was due to play in the competition but had a heart attack while playing on the course in March this year.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance was on standby to airlift him but he was able to get back to the club house and an ambulance took him to hospital by road.

Mr Kelly, who was helping out at the event, said: “I think Wiltshire Air Ambulance is fabulous. I was staggered at just how much it costs to keep the helicopter in the air.”