Prostate Cancer UK is calling on golfers across the UK to grab their clubs, round up their friends and colleague and take on The Big Golf Race, the charity’s flagship 72-hole in a day golfing challenge, to raise money to help beat the most common cancer in men.
This year, the leading men’s health charity is urging golfers to join them and to help save dads, grandads, brothers and friends from a disease killing one man every 45 minutes in the UK. With a bumper season of activity, the backing of some of the UK’s finest courses and a host of famous faces getting involved, 2023 looks set to be the biggest and best instalment of The Big Golf Race so far.
Golfers willing to take on The Big Golf Race have three options: for the more adventurous, the Marathon – which consists of four rounds and 26 miles of walking in a single day – may pose a worthy challenge, and for a more relaxed day of fundraising, the Half Marathon (two rounds) is an option. But, for those who really want to push themselves, the Ultra Marathon – 100 holes and 35 miles of walking – is a new, challenging addition for 2023.
Players are encouraged to ditch their buggies and tackle the challenge on foot, either in pairs or a four-ball, with a prize of an overnight golfing break at The Belfry, including two rounds of golf for four people, up for grabs for the top fundraising team.
Since 2020, over 7,500 golfers have answered Prostate Cancer UK’s call, raising an incredible £2 million to date, with a clutch of celebrities and the sport’s biggest names supporting the challenge.
Prostate Cancer UK ambassador and former Masters champion Danny Willett is one of them, and the 35 year old hopes to see even more golfers taking on The Big Golf Race in 2023. He said: “It’s been fantastic to see how many golfers across the UK have come together to take on The Big Golf Race over the years – and I’m hoping we get even more golfers out on the course this summer, enjoying a day of golf with their mates and raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.
“I know more than most how draining a round of golf can be, so for so many players to conquer four rounds in a day goes to show how passionate Prostate Cancer UK supporters are in backing the charity. The Big Golf Race has raised an incredible amount of money so far, but this is just the start – so I’m calling on golfers across the land to find a course, call their mates, grab their clubs and help make 2023 the challenge’s biggest year yet.”
As well as recruiting golfers across the country, Prostate Cancer UK will be working alongside partners such as The PGA and The London Club, encouraging them to host Big Golf Race challenges for their members and visitors this summer.
The London Club is teeing off their season of support by hosting its own 36-hole half-marathon golfing challenge on its International course this April for their members and visitors taking on The Big Golf Race.
Nicola Tallett, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re delighted with how many golfers, clubs and partners have embraced The Big Golf Race and helped to build it into a fun yet challenging way of helping to beat prostate cancer.
“It’s a disease killing one man every 45 minutes – roughly the time it takes to play three holes of golf – and it sadly exists in every golf club. But with the support of golfers like Rob, his friends and the thousands of others like them who have conquered The Big Golf Race, we’re able to continue to fund research into better tests and treatment for prostate cancer and keep men in the game for longer.”
To join Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race, visit prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/golf/the-big-golf-race.