Meet the golf-obsessed footballer teeing off for his dad

Kenny and Craig, who played together in the Scottish national team for over seven years and remained good friends, have supported each other after being diagnosed with the most common cancer in men. The duo reunited at Beaconsfield Golf Club where they also talked about our Big Golf Race and their predictions for Scotland’s Six Nations match with arch rivals England.

“I knew about prostate cancer, but as a young man, you think you’re untouchable,” said Kenny, 51, who was successfully treated for prostate cancer in 2022.

“My wife, Gabby [Logan], has a podcast, The Midpoint, all about midlife and going through the menopause and I said, ‘Well if you’re going through that, what are men going through?’

“She said, ‘Why don’t you get your hormones tested?’ And I went through that and found out that my PSA was a little high. It was monitored, then a biopsy, then a scan, then six months later I was told I needed to get my prostate taken out.

“One in eight men get prostate cancer, and it’s one in four for Black men. I’d thought the risk was the same for everyone. Hearing that made me realise that the statistics were high.

“When Craig was diagnosed, he came to me because I spoke about my diagnosis quite publicly. He was worried, but had been getting checked regularly. I was positive about it and said it was good he hadn’t waited for symptoms, because that’s a different story.

“I was actually playing golf with Kenny and I said that my PSA was high,” explained Craig, 55. “He was really supportive and all the information he gave me was really important.

“You never think it’s going to happen to you,” he added. “Kenny’s been fantastic. He’s gone through it all.

“My mates look at me and think I’m reasonably fit and healthy but you wouldn’t know. I had no symptoms. The Prostate Cancer UK risk checker is really important – to go through the questions and find out if you’re at risk of prostate cancer. It’s something that everyone should look at and find out where you are. If it says go speak to your GP – go.”

Both big golf fans, Kenny and Craig are backing our Big Golf Race and hope to see even more golfers rounding up their mates and taking on 36 or 72 holes of golf in a day to help save men’s lives.

Kenny said: “When you’re out playing golf, you’re comfortable and can chat and open up to your mates. I didn’t take up golf until I was 14, but I love it. I’ve said that since I recovered from prostate cancer, I want to play more golf and The Big Golf Race is a great challenge.

“Playing that many shots can be numbing for the brain, so having good focus and mindset is important, as well as having a laugh.”

Craig said: “I used to get dropped off by my dad at the golf course and play all day, so I’ve probably already played 72 holes in a day! I hope the challenge raises a lot of money and awareness of prostate cancer.”

And when it comes to the Six Nations, both – unsurprisingly – are backing their home nation ahead of their clash with England this weekend following a narrow victory against Wales in the first round of games and a narrow, controversial loss to France in their second game.

Craig said: “Scotland have beaten England three times out of the last five. They’re strong at the moment, have a lot of continuity and have a good coach, so there’s a good blend there. There’s a real possibility we can win it.”

“I started practising and having lessons at the end of 2022,” says the 42-year-old. “I did pick up a golf club a few times when I played football – we had charity days that I got involved in, but I mainly just drove the buggy and had a laugh!

“I was by myself in the house in Japan during Covid and their laws were more strict than the UK, so that’s when I picked up a club and started practising.

“I love it now, especially because it gives you that challenge. When I go to the golf course or pick up a club at the range, it gives me the kind of challenge I don’t have in my life now. When I was playing football, you’d build up to a Saturday. You’d know who you were playing and you’d compete directly against someone.

“The beauty of golf for me is that you think you’ve worked it out, you think you’ve mastered it, but you never have. So many times I’m having a great round, then the thought pops into my head – ‘you could shoot par today’ – and all of a sudden it’s just bogeys and double bogeys! But that’s the beauty of it. Because it’s so difficult and no shot is ever the same.”

Jay’s right. No shot (or not many!) will be the same when you’re playing 36, 72 or 100 holes in a day.

“I’ve only played 36 holes in one day before, so it’s going to be really challenging mentally,” he added. “And imagine how many steps I’ll get in! I remember saying before I started playing golf, ‘how is golf a sport?’ Now I know! It’s mentally gruelling, and over 72 holes you obviously walk a lot. But we’re going to go out there – friends who are footballers and musicians will play too, hopefully – and enjoy ourselves and hopefully we’re going to raise a lot of money for Prostate Cancer UK.”

So like Jay, we’re asking for golfers to choose their challenge, get their mates together and take on 36, 72 or 100 holes in a day to help save men’s lives. One hole and one donation at a time.

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