Inspired by International Men’s Health Week (10-16 June), golfers across the UK have responded to Prostate Cancer UK’s call to action to grab their clubs, round up playing partners and take on The Big Golf Race fundraising challenges to help save men’s lives. 

More than 2,300 challenges have been registered with the charity to take place over the coming weeks, with golfers across the country taking on the Marathon (72-holes in a day and walking an average of 26 miles); the Half Marathon (36-holes over 13.1 miles) or the formidable Ultra Marathon (100-holes over 35 miles).

Since The Big Golf Race was launched in 2020, more than 10,000 golfers have raised over £3.4m to help fund life-saving research to radically improve the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. It has become Prostate Cancer UK’s biggest single fundraising activity.

“Each year we’re amazed at the number of golfers signing-up to take part and the way they want to push themselves to better last year’s challenge or come up with a new concept to raise more money,” said Seren Evans, Head of Events and Community Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK. “This year, we’ve had interest from the RAF taking on the challenge in Brunei, one event in Inverness has put a team of 72 golfers together for a new take on the marathon and there’s 32-man team ready to go in Belfast, plus all of the others going above and beyond to help save men’s lives.”

Specialist golf media are also taking part this year for the first time. Leading publication Golf Monthly completed its 72-hole challenge recently at Burhill Golf Club in Surrey, as Editor Neil Tappin and Equipment Editor Dan Parker braved the early start and the typical English weather to complete their challenge just before darkness descended.

Parker said: “We loved taking part in the Big Golf Race this year. Our first round kicked off on the New Course at Burhill at 5:45am while the final putt hit the bottom of the hole on the Burhill’s Old Course just after 9:15pm.

“Playing four different formats across the four rounds helped keep our minds fresh and, on the whole, we physically felt in good shape as we walked just shy of 45,000 steps on the day, but it was as we took the golf club to the back of the swing during the third and fourth round, we certainly felt it – nothing a foam roller and long lie down couldn’t sort the next day.”  

Later this month, National Club Golfer’s Head of Content, Hannah Holden will undertake the formidable Ultra Marathon at her home club of Alwoodley in Yorkshire. Shortly after, Alex Perry, Associate Editor of Scottish title bunkered, will head to Turnberry in Ayrshire to take on the 100-hole challenge alongside The Sunday Times best-selling author and social media influencer Graeme Tomlinson (aka The Fitness Chef).

“I’m incredibly excited to be taking part in The Big Golf Race because it gives me the opportunity to do something meaningful to raise vital funds and awareness of this terrible disease,” said Perry. “And I’m also nervous, I’ve never played 100 holes in a day, and I’m playing with a chap who literally calls himself ‘The Fitness Chef’, so I hope he’s strong enough to carry me! But knowing our contribution could help save someone’s life will make it all worthwhile.”

Leading golf brand Titleist is also getting involved with two four-man teams taking on the full 72-hole marathon at St Ives Golf Club, close to its national fitting centre later this month.

Other notable names taking part in forthcoming challenges are PGA teaching professional Trey Niven and former England and Premier League footballer Jay Bothroyd, who co-host The OuttaBoundz show. They will take on the 72-hole challenge at their home course of Hadley Wood in Barnet. The challenge will be an emotional one for Bothroyd following his dad’s prostate cancer diagnosis.

“It was a big shock for myself and my family.” said Bothroyd. “I always looked at my dad as someone who was indestructible. I’d never seen him cry or upset. When he first told me it was over the phone, so it didn’t really sink in. But when I saw him, it really hit me. I could see he was vulnerable, he was worried and he was trying to shrug it off, like he wasn’t really bothered. But, because I’m close with him, I could see he was.

“As much as I was upset and worried, I had to show the level of strength he showed me when I was growing up. It was a really tough time, but now he’s had his surgery and his cancer is gone. With Father’s Day around the corner, my message for my dad would be to just enjoy life. Now that I’ve retired and getting older, I’ve seen people around me getting ill and passing away. So you just have to live every second of your life like it’s your last. It’s very important for men to know their risk, especially black men as there’s double the chance of them getting prostate cancer. I’d encourage all men to be on top of their health.”

To join the thousands of other golfers in taking on Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race, visit prostatecanceruk.org/TheBigGolfRace.