A budding golfer is on course to raise £100,000 for charity by playing a round in five different countries in under 24 hours in memory of his late father.
George Hughes, aged seven, could break a world record if he completes the epic challenge in tribute to his dad Dave Hughes who sadly died from heart transplant complications.
The lad, who will be playing nine holes in each nation, will kick off his fundraising effort when he tees off in Ireland at 9.30am on June 20.
He will then head to a club for a game north of the border and later catch a ferry to Scotland where he’ll play another round just before sundown.
The following morning, he’ll tee off at a course in England at 6.30am before going to Wales, where he’ll complete his monumental task just over two hours later.
George, who first picked up a bag of sticks at just 18 months old and is now a member of the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, said he was revelling at the challenge.
He said: “I'm so excited at playing five new courses, plus I get to go on a ferry where I might see some dolphins.
“Imagine if I get a hole-in-one when doing the challenge, that would be amazing.
“My mum doesn't know how early I have to tee off, so it's a secret between me and my grandad but it will be fine as I can sleep in the car.”
George has so far raised over £77,000 for the Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association, in Newcastle, which helped his mum, Louise Hughes, and dad during his health battle.
And his grandad Tony Sedgwick, 53, who nurtured his golfing talents, said his drive to bring in donations had touched people around the world.
He said: “He’s giving back to a charity that was unbelievably supportive to Louise.
“Without them, it would have cost thousands with what she had to go through, staying up in Newcastle, and there are a lot of unsung heroes.
“The money George has raised has just been phenomenal. It’s just unbelievable because he’s touched people all over the world.”
Louise, 30, now a nurse, added: “I was a bit apprehensive about him doing five courses.
"But I think he’ll absolutely smash it because his passion for golf is strong, he absolutely loves it.”
George was only one when his dad tragically passed away at the age of 32 following heart transplant surgery.
He had suffered from a congenital heart condition and had waited four and half years for a donor organ, which it was hoped would prolong his life.
But due to a rare complication, his donor heart failed, and he tragically died 11 weeks after the operation.
The toddler was left completely heartbroken by the loss, with Louise saying he would often “cry and ask for his daddy”.
However, within weeks, he picked up his first set of plastic golf clubs, which Tony bought him, and quickly began to excel at the game in his back garden.
By the age of three, the talented toddler could hit a ball around 100 yards and had finished his first hole in just 11 shots.
Tony said: “Golf was a distraction for George. But for me, as a Grandad, it’s fantastic that I can get out and play with him on a course.
“He’s doing very, very well. On a 340-yard hole, he’ll be paring it. He’s a consistent hitter of the ball. He’s improving vastly.
“Golf has been such an inspiration for him, and it’s helping him, but it’s also turning him into a fine young man because he’s playing with adults."
George, who is sponsored by retailer American Golf, recently met his hero, Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood, ranked at number 13 in the world.
He is now being trained by Fleetwood’s former coach, Norman Marshall, who said he had the right attitude to be a future champion.
He said: “We know that what goes into making a champion is largely unseen: character, determination, courage, resilience and enthusiasm.
“In George, we are beginning to see all of these qualities shine through, to compliment his undoubted golfing talent.”
George’s mammoth five-country golfing fundraiser will see him play his first nine holes at the Ballymascanlan resort in Ireland.
He’ll then hop across the border to Cloverhill Golf Club, near Newry, before driving to a ferry and getting to his last tee time at another club in Scotland prior to nightfall.
George will then rise early the next morning for a 6.30am round played in Chester. And to top off his challenge, he will finish at a club in North Wales before 9.30am
Alongside this event, George is hosting his own junior golf day for 100 players in May this year.
Visit https://justgiving.com/page/george-hughes-170299567467 to donate to George’s incredible fundraiser.
George Hughes, aged seven, could break a world record if he completes the epic challenge in tribute to his dad Dave Hughes who sadly died from heart transplant complications.
The lad, who will be playing nine holes in each nation, will kick off his fundraising effort when he tees off in Ireland at 9.30am on June 20.
He will then head to a club for a game north of the border and later catch a ferry to Scotland where he’ll play another round just before sundown.
The following morning, he’ll tee off at a course in England at 6.30am before going to Wales, where he’ll complete his monumental task just over two hours later.
George, who first picked up a bag of sticks at just 18 months old and is now a member of the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, said he was revelling at the challenge.
He said: “I'm so excited at playing five new courses, plus I get to go on a ferry where I might see some dolphins.
“Imagine if I get a hole-in-one when doing the challenge, that would be amazing.
“My mum doesn't know how early I have to tee off, so it's a secret between me and my grandad but it will be fine as I can sleep in the car.”
George has so far raised over £77,000 for the Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association, in Newcastle, which helped his mum, Louise Hughes, and dad during his health battle.
And his grandad Tony Sedgwick, 53, who nurtured his golfing talents, said his drive to bring in donations had touched people around the world.
He said: “He’s giving back to a charity that was unbelievably supportive to Louise.
“Without them, it would have cost thousands with what she had to go through, staying up in Newcastle, and there are a lot of unsung heroes.
“The money George has raised has just been phenomenal. It’s just unbelievable because he’s touched people all over the world.”
Louise, 30, now a nurse, added: “I was a bit apprehensive about him doing five courses.
"But I think he’ll absolutely smash it because his passion for golf is strong, he absolutely loves it.”
George was only one when his dad tragically passed away at the age of 32 following heart transplant surgery.
He had suffered from a congenital heart condition and had waited four and half years for a donor organ, which it was hoped would prolong his life.
But due to a rare complication, his donor heart failed, and he tragically died 11 weeks after the operation.
The toddler was left completely heartbroken by the loss, with Louise saying he would often “cry and ask for his daddy”.
However, within weeks, he picked up his first set of plastic golf clubs, which Tony bought him, and quickly began to excel at the game in his back garden.
By the age of three, the talented toddler could hit a ball around 100 yards and had finished his first hole in just 11 shots.
Tony said: “Golf was a distraction for George. But for me, as a Grandad, it’s fantastic that I can get out and play with him on a course.
“He’s doing very, very well. On a 340-yard hole, he’ll be paring it. He’s a consistent hitter of the ball. He’s improving vastly.
“Golf has been such an inspiration for him, and it’s helping him, but it’s also turning him into a fine young man because he’s playing with adults."
George, who is sponsored by retailer American Golf, recently met his hero, Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood, ranked at number 13 in the world.
He is now being trained by Fleetwood’s former coach, Norman Marshall, who said he had the right attitude to be a future champion.
He said: “We know that what goes into making a champion is largely unseen: character, determination, courage, resilience and enthusiasm.
“In George, we are beginning to see all of these qualities shine through, to compliment his undoubted golfing talent.”
George’s mammoth five-country golfing fundraiser will see him play his first nine holes at the Ballymascanlan resort in Ireland.
He’ll then hop across the border to Cloverhill Golf Club, near Newry, before driving to a ferry and getting to his last tee time at another club in Scotland prior to nightfall.
George will then rise early the next morning for a 6.30am round played in Chester. And to top off his challenge, he will finish at a club in North Wales before 9.30am
Alongside this event, George is hosting his own junior golf day for 100 players in May this year.
Visit https://justgiving.com/page/george-hughes-170299567467 to donate to George’s incredible fundraiser.
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