Hi °C | Lo °C ULSTER’S top golfers have given their backing to a new fund-raising initiative for Muscular Dystrophy.
Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey have all thrown their weight behind the charity’s Four Course Classic.
A spokesman for Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said: “This is the UK’s biggest golf challenge.
“Teams of four sign up to play 72-holes in just one day on Friday June 18, one of the longest days of the year.
“Players will tee-off at around 4am and from there it is a race against time to complete the 72 holes in the next 16 hours.
“We reckon players will cover around 15 miles of fairways — and that doesn’t include any trips to the rough.”
The event is open to teams of four with a fee of £25 per golfer which includes tee-times and green fees for the four chosen courses.
Many of Northern Ireland’s top clubs have signed up for the scheme and a full list can be found on www.fourcourseclassic.co.uk
“I'm delighted to put my name to this worthy venture,” said McIlroy.
“I'm fully aware of the devastating effects that muscular dystrophy can have on the body so anything that can be done to raise awareness and money towards research is both admirable and necessary.”
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to encourage people to take part in the Four Course Classic in any way they can,” added Clarke.
“I know just how debilitating muscular dystrophy can be so as much money as possible needs to be raised to fund research programmes.”
“It sounds like a great challenge, and I hope that local clubs and players across Northern Ireland get behind it in support of a great charity,” said McDowell.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign funds world-class research to find effective treatments and cures, provides free practical and emotional support and campaigns to raise awareness and and awards grants towards the cost of specialist equipment.
