Two English golfers smashed a Guinness World Record this weekend for the most golf holes played walking during a 24-hour period, to drive lifesaving research to help men get diagnosed and treated for the most common cancer in England.
PGA Professional Nick Brewaeys, who works at West Cornwall Golf Club, and his friend Ross Lawrance played 184 holes in 21 hours and 45 minutes, beating the previous record by three holes.
They pledged their support to Prostate Cancer UK by participating in the charity’s flagship fundraiser, The Big Golf Race, which raises money to save men’s lives.
The gruelling challenge took place at West Cornwall, starting at 11am on Sunday and finishing shortly before 9am on Monday (today). During their marathon effort the pair walked 56 miles and burned 15,000 calories each in the process.
So far Nick and Ross have raised more than £5,500 to add to Nick’s total from previous years. Last year he played 144 holes and raised £2,900, and the year before he managed £2,700 for his 100-hole challenge. In three years he has raised over £10,000.
“We always had it in us to complete the challenge, but it was incredible to actually do it and we feel great. We’ve pushed ourselves to mental and physical limits and we want to thank everyone at West Cornwall Golf Club for helping us throughout the challenge and to everyone that has donated,” Nick told BBC Radio Cornwall.
“We’ve taken roughly around 900 shots and walked around 105,000 steps which, in Cornish terms, is the same distance as between St Ives and Liskeard. We had to battle the conditions too, it was hot and breezy when we first started and throughout the night, we had some heavy, but thankfully short rain storms, which the hardened members of the golf club withstood, but we’re very tired now!” he added.
Since The Big Golf Race was launched in 2020, it has become the biggest golf fundraising challenge in the UK, with more than 14,400 golfers raising over £4.5m. This year, Prostate Cancer UK – the leading men’s health charity – is encouraging more golfers to go the distance to help save dads, grandads, brothers, partners and golf mates from a disease that affects one in eight men.
Golfers can sign up for The Big Golf Race via the challenge’s microsite and will receive a fundraising pack, including golf balls, tees, pencils and a fundraising guide, plus there are opportunities to earn incentive gifts with every swing. Every golfer who raises £250 will be entered into a draw to win a once-in-a-life golfing holiday to the Aphrodite Hills Resort in Cyprus, while the overall top fundraiser will claim the ultimate golf package worth £3,000, courtesy of Titleist.
“All participants in this year’s Big Golf Race have their own motivation for taking part, but they share a collective mission: to stop men dying of prostate cancer. We’d like to thank Nick and Ross for shining a light on prostate cancer within his network. Every round, every shot, every step walked takes us a little bit closer to helping save men’s lives,” said Seren Evans, Head of Events and Community Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK.
To sign up to The Big Golf Race, click here.