189 holes … in just one day!

Foursome set for the mother of all marathon challenges this summer

Fantastic Four: The 189-hole challengers are, from left to right, Graeme Dawson, Angus Watson, Ally Love and Gary Davidson

St Andrews has played host to countless golfing triumphs in the past, and this summer it will be the stage for four amateur golfers to complete a unique golfing challenge.

Graeme Dawson, Gary Davidson, Ally Love and Angus Watson will attempt to complete each of the 189 golf holes in and around the town including the infamous Old Course, which has hosted the Open on 28 occasions.

The challenge will see the quartet cover over 50 miles as they play 11 different courses in just ONE DAY whilst carrying their own clubs, and playing to the rules of golf as a fourball.

They will also be raising funds for Cancer Research UK, the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership and HCPT: The Pilgrimage Trust.

The courses included in the St Andrews 189-Hole Challenge include some of the most famous anywhere in the world. St Andrews Old, where golf is widely believed to have been conceived, will be the third course on the groups’ itinerary at 6.20am.

The challenge starts at 3.15am on Kingsbarns Golf Links, often ranked as one of the Top-10 courses in the world and will also include The Torrance and The Kittocks courses at Fairmont St Andrews Resort, the Old Course Hotels’ Duke’s Course, as well as the six further St Andrews Links Trust course: the New, Jubilee, Castle, Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove.

Three of the 2013 challengers completed ten St Andrews courses in one calendar day in 2007, but with the addition of the Castle Course in 2008, the offering in the town has increased to 11 courses.

“There aren’t many places in the world that you can play so many different, quality courses within such a short distance,” commented Graeme Dawson, one of the St Andrews 189-Hole Challengers. “It took us around 19 hours to play ten courses in 2007, so we’re hoping we can squeeze another one in! When the Castle Course was built we knew we would need to do it again, and we’re hugely grateful to the courses for giving us the opportunity to take on the challenge.”

Ally Love, who was also part of both the 2007 challenge, added: “We all know the courses well having studied or lived in the town for a number of years, so hopefully we know how to keep out of trouble and play as quickly as possible; it’s just a case of hitting the ball where we want! We’ve had fantastic support from everyone who has heard about the challenge so hopefully we can raise some great funds for our chosen charities.”

The challenge is currently being processed by Guinness World Records as an official record attempt for the most consecutive different holes to be played in one day by a fourball, and during the challenge, the group will also attempt to break the world record for the quickest 18 holes to be completed on foot by a four-ball.

The challenge is being supported by Titleist and FootJoy, supplying apparel, bags, towels, golf balls and caps for the challengers.

To donate to the chosen charities, please visit the official challenge website at: 189holechallenge.moonfruit.com. You can also follow the challengers’ preparations on Twitter – @standrews189 – and Facebook.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered