A stunning day awaited the golfers who signed up for Ray White’s fifth SPCA fundraiser at Ōhope Beach Golf Links.

The event raised $16,250 for the Whakatāne SPCA centre through auctions, raffles and registrations.

Sponsorship and marketing coordinator Lidi Schiefelbusch said they had lots of keen bidders happy to support the cause.

Thirty-four teams of three, alongside seven well-behaved leashed dogs, participated in the 18-hole tournament, and winners were rewarded from an “amazing” prize table with items and vouchers donated by Ōhope and Whakatāne businesses.

The Ōhope Greens Team took the title of the tournament.

“But the real winners were the animals looked after by the fantastic local team at Whakatāne SPCA,” Schiefelbusch said.

For one raffle, Bay of Plenty Helicopters dropped 200 golf balls from the sky onto a large target on the green – the closest ball to the bullseye scored the raffle prize.

“The spirit of the community is there even in times that are not always easy – people carry a lot of love for animals,” Schiefelbusch said.

SPCA team member Gemma Cahill said it was “a really great day with really great weather”.

This year, she said the funds would go towards revamping an outdoor isolation area at the centre.

The current space is unusable, meaning new dogs to the centre have to spend their isolation period in their kennels.

“Puppies get bored in kennels. Our plan for the revamped area is to concrete it and split it into two sections, so the dogs can have a break from their kennels, stretch their legs and get some sunshine,” she said.

She is grateful to Ray White’s Ray Johnson, and all the volunteers who made the day happen.