101 holes in the name of charity

For most people, one round of golf is usually enough to have them craving a post-round tipple in the clubhouse. But for one man, five-and-a-half was closer to the magic number during a mammoth charity drive.

Stuart Finlay, a 29-year-old golf lover from Cardiff has been a member of Wenvoe Castle since he was eight years old, and decided it was time to put something back in to the club that had given so much, while raising money for worthy causes at the same time.

Gregg Stevenson and Stuart Finlay on the course

He played 101 holes consecutively (5.61 rounds), starting at 6.15am and finishing at 7.30pm, with a break for a thunderstorm during the day. Together with a charity golf tournament, auction and raffle the following day, he raised a whopping £5,500.

He explains: “I wanted to get something back in to the club. Working as a golf development officer for Golf Development Wales, I thought it was a perfect chance to develop the club.”

The money raised will be split between the club and two charities – On Course Foundation and The Poppy Factory.

It is hoped the money will help develop an undercover golf area at Wenvoe Castle so golf can be played in all weather, and help attract new members and retain the current crop – part of the remit of GDW.

On Course Foundation helps injured servicemen and women through their rehabilitation and provides opportunities for them to take up golf to re-develop self confidence and give them something to work towards.

The Poppy Factory strives to help injured, sick and wounded veterans find meaningful and permanent work after their service, and the two charities inspired Stuart to take to the course to help them in any way he could.

“I was struck by the work they do and the people they help,” he explained, and he was joined around the course by some special guests.

The Poppy factory’s Tim Howson came along to explain to those present about the charity’s work, while Gregg Stevenson, one ex-soldier helped by On Course Foundation, also showed up to lend his support to Stuart on the greens and fairways.

Gregg lost one leg above the knee, and the other below the knee, after stepping on an improvised explosive device while touring with the Royal Engineer Commandos in Afghanistan in 2009.

Having never played golf before, he now plays off a handicap of 18 and joined Stuart for a round in the sun at Wenvoe Castle.

“The time I spent with Gregg was a humbling experience,” Stuart adds. “Gregg really picked me up when I was halfway through.

“My friends and family came to support me as they finished work and I managed to hit par in my final round and even birdied the final hole!

“I felt relief at the finish, but then a sense of pride because it was well worth it. I raised £600 from sponsorship and other people on the course were reading signs put up by the club about what I was doing and coming up to me and giving me money.

“Hopefully I raised enough for the undercover area. We had a grant of 50% of the cost from Sport Wales, and hopefully the rest was raised at the event.”

Golf Development Wales strive to help golf clubs improve their areas lacking in members – be it seniors, men’s, ladies’ or juniors’. April is their Golf Awareness Month, and they are keen to get in contact with all clubs to see how they can be helped.

In Wenvoe Castle’s case, they are looking to attract new younger members by running sessions from nine-years and above, and under-9s every Thursday over the summer.

Clubs wishing to find out how they can work with GDW, or those interested in helping either of the charities mentioned above, can contact Stuart on: stuart.finlay@golfunionwales.org.