Bunker Mentality – the golf and lifestyle apparel brand “Devoted to golf” – is supporting PGA Professional Luke Willett as he prepares for #TheGreatBritishOpenChallenge to raise funds for young golfers and national charity the Golf Foundation.
Willett, the Hampstead Golf Club-based PGA Pro known as ‘The Iron Golfer’, is aiming to complete a gruelling 10-day golfing challenge to cycle more than 800 miles to all 14 Open Championship venues, carrying his clubs on his back and playing a full 18 holes on each course.
The goal is to play 252 Open Championship holes during his bike journey around Britain’s roads and weather system, including sailing to Northern Ireland to play Royal Portrush. The odyssey for Luke will start at Carnoustie in Scotland, on 18 October at 7.30am (playing St Andrews on the same day), and will end 10 days later at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent. Luke is set to play each 18 holes with a mixture of junior players, top amateurs, professionals and club members who support the Golf Foundation.
The 34 year-old is fundraising for the Foundation as the national charity works to change the lives of young people by introducing them to golf. All funds raised will go directly to helping more young people to keep playing and keep developing the skills for life that the game teaches them, while keeping our game invigorated and successful.
Bunker Mentality, the modern and forward-thinking apparel brand, has provided Luke with full all-weather golf kit, including the waterproofs he is likely to need as he cycles and swings his clubs in the unpredictable weather, on some of the world’s most famous links courses, home to every single Open Championship since 1860.
Robert Hart, Founder of Bunker Mentality, said: “Our team was only too happy to provide some high quality clothing for Luke’s amazing endeavour. The Bunker Mentality philosophy is all about loving the game for the camaraderie, enjoyment and rejuvenating experiences as we navigate our way through every round. Luke embodies this ethos to the maximum and no one will have a bigger golfing adventure than Luke this year. It’s wonderful that he is choosing to raise money for the Golf Foundation’s important work; a cause that all golf-lovers can get behind.”
Luke Willett said: “The support of Bunker Mentality both in practical terms and through the team’s encouragement is really fantastic. I believe that The Great British Open Challenge will help make the sport more appealing to young prospective players and will ignite their imaginations. I want to help get more young players of all abilities onto golf courses by supporting the Golf Foundation.”
Vanessa Bell, Head of Fundraising at the Golf Foundation, said: “We are so grateful to the team at Bunker Mentality for their help. All the funds raised in Luke’s challenge will go into supporting our activities to engage with more youngsters through golf at the grass roots level. It would be brilliant for as many people as possible to support Luke and donate to this cause.”
#TheGreatBritishOpenChallenge encompasses: 18 October, Carnoustie and the Home of Golf, St Andrews; 19 October, Musselburgh and Muirfield; 20 October, Royal Troon and Prestwick; 21 October, Turnberry; 22 October, Royal Portrush; 23 October, Royal Lytham & St Annes; 24 October, Royal Birkdale and Royal Liverpool; 26 October, Royal Cinque Ports; 27 October, Prince’s and Royal St George’s.
* To donate, please visit Luke’s JustGiving page.
* See also Bunker Mentality’s Bunker Blog for more on Luke’s challenge.
* For more details, contact Luke on email at [email protected], or our Press Officer Ben Evans on 07789 722853.