Arran Golfathon for Celebri-tees

Some of Scotland’s best known faces are heading to the Island of Arran to play 100 holes of non-stop golf for charity.

The charity golfathon on Friday 22 June 2012 aims to raise more than £40,000 for Scottish Spina Bifida.

Eight sponsored teams of three players featuring sporting celebrities and members of the business community will tee off at the crack of dawn and travel round the island playing 100 holes of golf.

Taking part will be Celtic and Scotland legends Davy Provan and Murdo MacLeod, former Rangers striker Billy Dodds, ex SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith and popular TV journalists Chick Young and Jim Delahunt. Scottish comedy legend Andy Cameron will be on hand to give his support to the players.

Sam Forrest, Director of Scottish Spina Bifida said: “This promises to be a fantastic event and I am delighted that so many people have volunteered to give up their time for such a wonderful cause.

“Playing 100 holes of golf non-stop will not be an easy thing to do and I’m sure there will be some blisters on feet and hands by the end of it.”

Joining the celebrities will be teams made up of business people from Dubai JAGS (Jebel Ali Golf Society), Renfrewshire Electrical Ltd, Glasgow-based PCT Group, WB Alloys and the Scottish Spina Bifida Glasgow Hawks.

Each team is backed up by a car and driver to take them round the beautiful Island of Arran and the Captains of each of Arran’s seven golf courses will also be helping on the day. The event also has the support of Dougie MacFarlane, Chairman of the Arran Golf Association.

The intrepid golfers will play 18 holes at Lamlash, 18 at Whiting Bay, 18 at Lochranza, 16 at Brodick, 12 at Shiskine, nine at Corrie, and nine at Machrie meaning a grand total of 100 holes. They start at 4am and should finish around 8pm.

Members of the public can watch the teams play at any of the courses on route throughout the day.

Mr Forrest added: “It costs almost £1 million every year to maintain our high level of services and we rely almost entirely on fundraising challenges, events, donations and the goodwill of volunteers to raise these much needed funds.

“The support we offer includes home and hospital visits, information and training days, social and leisure groups, respite care, intensive support to all families with a new born baby, conferences, subsidised holidays and our Lo-Call Helpline.

“That is a great motivator for all the guys taking part in what promises to be an event to remember.”

Note to News Editors:

The Scottish Spina Bifida Association adds quality to life, everyday. It is the only registered charity with a Scotland-wide remit to support children young people and adults affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and allied conditions.

Right now there are over 3,000 children, young people and adults in Scotland affected by these disabilities and without the SSBA’s Family Support Services, Support Centre and Lo-Call Helpline many people would not have access to the support they need. Every year the SSBA’s Family Support Workers handle over 2500 enquiries and make over 250 home and hospital visits.

How the Money helps:


• £10 would allow information packs on spina bifida and hydrocephalus to be sent to 5 families
• £100 would allow 15 young people with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus to enjoy an evening bowling or similar social activity and help reduce social isolation
• £1,000 would allow a family support worker to respond to 100 calls from families in distress by providing the appropriate advice and emotional support
• £10,000 would allow the Healthy Living Project to run 8 clinics allowing over 40 young adults affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus to access free Health Checks and receive specialist support in self-managing their conditions to maintain and improve their quality of life.


For more information, please contact Sam Forrest, Director of Scottish Spina Bifida Association on 07912 732 388.

This article was posted on 17-May-2012, 12:50 by Hugh Barrow.