Meet your Head Professionals

For 2024, we’ve recruited top-rated talent to help you and your friends have an amazing Big Golf Race. Clothing choices? What to eat? How to book a course? How to promote your event and raise as much as possible? Don’t worry - our Head Professionals have the answers.

From a former Masters winner, award-winning fitness chefs, broadcast extraordinaires, PGA professionals and fantastic fundraisers - not to mention the world’s biggest golf YouTube star - we’ve got you covered.

How to book a course - Rick Shiels, Head Professional

From PGA professional and world’s biggest golf Youtuber, Rick Shiels

If you’re a member of a golf club, in theory you hope it’d be fairly straightforward to book multiple rounds at your club, especially if you choose a less busy time of the year like the summer holidays. 

If not, here are a few pointers from Rick:

• My top tip is to find a mate who is a member of a golf club near you, get them on your Big Golf Race team and see if they can help you secure your day at a club near you. 
• Speak to the club, find out who is in charge of booking tee times (sometimes it’s the club professional, sometimes it’s the golf club manager), explain what you are doing and show how it will be good publicity for the club. 1 in 8 men get prostate cancer, and those men are most at risk are over 50. This is likely to be a lot of golfers at their club.
• Show them your Prostate Cancer UK letter of authority and mention Prostate Cancer UK is an official charity partner of the PGA/works with the PGA, the membership body for golf professionals. 
• If you are a bigger group (8+) ask about special deals. Many clubs offer deals for two rounds and lunch at a ‘golf society’ rate
• Choose a day in the week less likely to have competitions and opt for a golf course which is less busy. Some clubs need more visitors. 

Stick at it - it’s a great cause and well worth putting in a bit of time finding a course to take on your challenge.

Promoting your challenge - DJ Spoony, Head Professional

DJ Spoony aka Johnathon Joseph is a DJ, broadcaster as well as a keen golfer and here’s here to give you top tips on how to promote your challenge as widely as possible.

DJ Spoony’s top tips

• If you’re a member at your club, check with the captain or your PGA professional to see if you can put up The Big Golf Race empty belly poster or add info into their club newsletter to make your fellow members aware of your challenge. Really handy if you are wanting to play through on the day too.
• Shout about why you’re doing it - this might be because you’ve been affected by prostate cancer personally, someone you know has or you’re doing it just to see if you can.
• If you use social media, get your challenge on your timeline and add your JustGiving link in your bio ahead of the day. 
• On the day of your challenge, take lots of photos or short videos to update your JustGiving page once you’ve finished. Then post on social media and to email everyone who has sponsored you. Don’t forget to post on Prostate Cancer UK’s Golf Society Facebook group too.
• Keep your Justgiving page updated before, during and after the challenge and remember to thank everyone who supported you - whether that be the club members, local businesses or your friends and family.

Getting your fundraising going - Rob Green, Head Professional

Prostate Cancer UK supporter Rob lost his dad to prostate cancer in 2015. As a keen golfer he does all he can to raise money by playing golf.

Top tips from Rob

• Check out your Big Golf Race fundraising pack. It’s there to get you started. Maybe even tempt some donations by flogging those golf balls & pin badges
• Get your place of work involved. Ask them whether they have a matched funding scheme or use their social media/newsletter/noticeboard to spread the word. And whilst you’re at work, why not add to your fundraising by embarking on a cake sale amongst colleagues, or a mini Pitch & Putt competition on that really long corridor (Health & Safety permitting, obviously). 
• Post on social media. Take photos and videos in the run up to and during the challenge. We even have a dedicated Facebook group you can use. So get sharing.
• Create a JustGiving page - it’s the easiest way for people to donate. Make the most of your page by telling everyone why you’re taking on The Big Golf Race, especially if it’s personal. Post updates on it regularly to keep your sponsors informed.
• Challenge yourself on the day. Birdies, 3-putts, out of bounds, wager between your mates or get people to sponsor you for achieving certain feats.
• Remind people why you’re doing it. Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the UK. That’s thousands of dads, brothers, partners, grandads, mates, sons and uncles. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By taking part in The Big Golf Race and raising money, you’ll help fund lifesaving research to diagnose men sooner, saving thousands of lives. One round and one donation at a time.

There’s plenty more where these came from. Check out more ideas from Prostate Cancer UK’s A-Z of fundraising ideas and have a look at what could give your fundraising the boost it deserves!

Preparing for your challenge - The Fitness Chef, Head Professional

Graeme (@thefitnesschef_ on Instagram) is getting involved in The Big Golf Race following his dad’s prostate cancer diagnosis. Thankfully it was caught early and he’s doing well now. 

He’s also passionate about nutrition and making what can be a dull subject more fun.

Top tips from The Fitness Chef

• First up, do you need a full set of clubs? Are you really going to use 4 wedges? And three hybrids? I’d definitely recommend keeping your 7 iron in the bag but consider a lighter bag especially if you are carrying for 72 holes. 
• Have back up supplies of whatever you are eating and drinking in the locker room or in your car in a cool box, this saves you carrying all your food and drink round for the whole day. And you could apply the same strategy for golf balls too.
• It’s an old favourite but have some bananas in the bag, or some energy gels to perk you up. Protein bars can also be a convenient snack to graze on throughout the day, but I recommend having at least one large meal after one of your rounds. This could be some sandwiches or a chilled, pre-cooked meal in your coolbox.
• Hydration is going to be the most important consideration. If you’re dehydrated it will affect your performance and could be dangerous if it’s a really hot day. If you are feeling thirsty it means you are dehydrated already. I recommend taking a few sips of water every 2-3 holes for the whole day rather than consuming lots at once. Consider packing rehydration tablets and try and stay off the booze, particularly in the first couple of rounds on a hot day! 
• Make sure you have a hat and sunscreen in your bag. Topping up after each round even if it’s not that sunny. 
• Have a spare pair of socks and top, change after 2 rounds. You’ll feel reborn. 

Finessing your technique - Danny Willett, Head Professional

Danny Willett is a former Masters champion and has won 8 times on the DP World Tour, as a Prostate Cancer UK golf ambassador he chose Prostate Cancer UK as his official charity partner for the 2021 and 2022 British Masters at The Belfry.

Danny’s top tips:

• Stick to your routine, even when you get tired. This will help you to play the best shots you can. And hopefully help you preserve energy for later in the day by playing less shots overall.
• Think about your strategy for your next shot as you approach it rather than when you get there. What club might you need? What’s in the way? Visualise the shot you want to play. 
• Keep an eye on the terrain, is the ball above or below your feet? This makes a big difference to how you approach the shot and will stop you hooking or slicing the ball if you make the right preparation. 
• You are likely to be playing in the middle of the summer, when the fairways and greens are at their fastest. Think about the club you are using on your approach you don’t want to be flying off the back of the green. Once you’re on the green, check for slopes and give it a quick read before putting. If there’s something on the hole, round or match maybe guarantee the par rather than going for broke!
• Most of all, have fun with your mates, it’s about getting out there and taking on a great challenge for an amazing cause. You’ll absolutely love it!

If you’ve got any of your own top tips or recommendations, why not share them in our Golf Society Facebook Group to inspire your fellow Big Golf Racers?