In the swing for all-day golf challenge

Dozens of fund-raisers took part in a gruelling all-day golf tournament which raised more than £15,000 for the NHS.

A total of 28 golfers volunteered to play 72 holes at the notoriously hilly Houghwood Golf Club in Billinge – that’s four times around the course for anyone not familiar with the sport!

The players covered 26 miles in total, teeing off at 4am and finishing just as the sun was setting around 8.30pm.

Spencer Anglesea, one of the tournament organisers, said: “Our aim was to raise as much as we could for NHS Charities Together, the official charity partner of the NHS.

“We started planning this event before the country and golf was forced to ‘shut down’ and for a long time it looked as if we may struggle to do it.

“Even when we were allowed to play golf again in mid-May we still had some obstacles to overcome and it was only in late May that we were allowed to play in groups of four which meant all of a sudden we were ready.

“Our day started by meeting at the golf course at 3.45am in readiness to start our first round soon after 4am. The weather was very kind for the morning rounds in so much it wasn’t too warm,

but by mid-afternoon it was scorching and the views from the top of the course

overlooking the glistening River Mersey were spectacular, but the heat just added to the challenge. Our final group arrived back at the clubhouse at 8.30pm, over 16 hours later.

“We walked over 26 miles and must have hit in excess of 350 golf shots.

“We were all sponsored for the event and because of the charity we had chosen, people were very willing to support our challenge.”

Spencer added: “The directors at Houghwood very kindly loaned us the course for the day and donated a free 12-month membership as a raffle prize to boost our

total.

“We were supported by buggy drivers all day who were carrying our clubs and supporting us and we are incredibly grateful to them as we couldn’t have done this without them.

“Neale and Sue Spence from Muffinman provided food for us throughout the day because the clubhouse was still closed due to lockdown regulations and we would like to thank them too for their support.

“By 8.30pm I had never seen so many shattered looking people, but the joy of achieving such as challenge was there for all to see.

“Some people commented that although it was the toughest thing they’d ever done, it was the most rewarding and I’m pleased and proud to say we raised a huge £15,205 – an incredible amount for an event that was in jeopardy until very recently.”