Burhill Golf & Leisure CEO Colin Mayes led home a team of dedicated golf industry professionals who completed the Coast-to-Coast bike ride in aid of the Armed Forces Memorial.
Mayes, along with Burhill colleagues David Cook and Andy Owen, were part of an eight-strong team who completed the 140-mile cycle ride, which started in Whitehaven and ended in Tynemouth. Also part of the team was Kevin Hart (Club Car) Andy Brown (Toro), Christian Grisard van Roey (Toro), Bruce Glasco (Troon Golf) and golf course designer Jonathan Gaunt.
They braved wind, rain, baking temperatures and punctures in order to raise £20,000 to purchase four, six-seater Club Car vehicles to transport elderly and infirm relatives around the 150-acre National Memorial Arboretum in Shropshire.
The group cycled west to east along the route of Hadrian’s Wall and completed the feat in two-and-a-half days.
Mayes said, “It was a really tough going, we took on all weathers and challenges but it was a brilliant experience.”
Cook, Burhill Golf Club general manager, said, “We all suffered a little bit, we’d done some training but it was never going to be a walk in park. The one thing we did underestimate was the severity of the hills, though it kept you going knowing that once you reached the top you had a good few miles to go down the other side.”
There were a few scrapes along the way but the group ended the 140-miles injury free despite a number of falls.
Cook added, “The terrain was a little rough at times and on the final day we had four punctures in quick succession. But we made it and completed the tradition of dipping our back wheels in the Atlantic Ocean at Whitehaven, then our front wheels into the North Sea at Tynemouth.”
Once the total sum of money raised has been calculated Burhill Golf Club will host an event to present the Armed Forces Memorial with the Club Car buggies.
It is not too late to support the team’s fantastic physical effort. Contributions can easily be made on-line at www.justgiving.com/burhill-coast-to-coast
National Memorial Arboretum www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org.uk