Macmillan Awesome Foursome June 17th

Four intrepid West Wilts Golfers will tee off at 5am on Friday the 17th June and will endeavour to complete 72 holes before it gets dark. With over 20 miles to cover including four trips up "the big hill" this is definitely one challenge not to be underestimated.

Last year saw almost 2,000 heroic teams across the UK sign up to play 72 holes in one day, and raise over £1 million for people affected by Cancer and now West Wilts have decided to add to this worthwhile cause.

Our foursome is made up of Captain Walter Witts, Ivor Groskop, Howard Webb and Neil Adams. With a combined age of 265 years they have experience on their side but do not expect to break any 72 hole scoring or speed records.

Walter has been club Captain since March and Macmillan is his charity for his year in office. He chose the charity because of the help and support it has given his family in the past. As an ex Marine he is always up for a challenge. Having passed 74 years of age Walter likes to think he is still in the prime of life and fully expects to emulate his golfing hero Seve Ballesterous. We can expect to see some clever escape shots from the car park.

Our most experienced golfer is Ivor "the Russian" Groskop who has played the game for 58 years since he was 11 years old. Playing off 12 his style resembles that of his golfing idol Bernard Langer. Being meticulous, unflustered and deadly accurate are the hallmarks of Ivor's game. His biggest fear on the day is rain, he has an aversion to muddy trousers, but his lifelong experience and a stout umbrella will ensure he crosses the 72 hole finish line. Ivor describes Macmillan as "a damned good charity" that has been extremely supportive and helpful to an elderly couple he knows who were in desperate need of support. Ivor is a bit of a dreamer, he supports Arsenal, and kids himself every year that Arsene will lead them to glory.

Howard is slightly elusive at the moment but we are assured he will be there on the day. We will update you about his abilities, fears and precious moments in due course.

At 53, Neil is clearly the youngster in the group. However, he is a bit of a hypochondriac, with a constant list of ailments brought on by allergies, a terrible diet (beer mostly), and the stress of being chairman of our club. He took up golf 30 years ago and, inspired by his Masters wins at Augusta, modelled his swing on Nick Faldo's. This means he is constantly tinkering with his grip, alignment, clubs and, as a result, suffers from long and persistent bouts of inconsistency interspersed with infrequent episodes of brilliance (never lasting for more than a few holes). One of his bestest friends has been a Macmillan paediatric nurse caring for children and their families with cancer for over 25 years. Neil says " I consider it a privilege to be able to support Macmillan because what she and her colleagues do every day has always humbled me and I know the funds raised are going to help people at the darkest moment in their lives".

If you would like to donate to the cause please add your donation by contacting Walter, Ivor, Howard or Neil directly. A sponsor form is kept behind the bar or you can easily donate on this page.