A STOURBRIDGE golfing group were able to raise almost £2,300 for Macmillan Nurses after taking part in The Longest Golf Day Challenge.

The eight friends, who have known each other since childhood, completed four rounds of golf – and walked more than 40km – in 17 hours.

They teed off at 5am to ensure they had enough daylight left to complete the challenge and finished the rounds just after the sun set at 10pm.

Iain Mathers, 31, said: “I think it’s safe to say all eight of us felt the full effects of the challenge in the later stages and the days following.

“I really began to hit the wall on the back nine of the third round, but the banter between ourselves was what kept us going.

“The fourth round was similar to the first as we had the course all to ourselves so we could play a lot quicker.

“However, the muscles were a lot more tired so both distance on our shots and the pace we walked at dipped a little.”

Two years ago, the friends decided to form a group – dubbed Wollaston Golf Society (WGS) – to play golf, once a month, at different courses around the midlands.

Of the 24 group members, Chris Lampard, Duncan Chance, Stuart Doolittle, Barzu Zare, Gareth Jones, Dave Gripton and Danny Knight joined Iain in the endurance test.

Iain said: “I think if we were asked on the Sunday night if we would do it again, we would have said doubtful, but the memories we had throughout the day were ones that will stay with us for many years.

“Maybe we’ll give it another go with some other members of the Wollaston Golf Society in future years.”

As an act of charity, Patshull Park Golf Club waved the green fees helping the group to raise £2,295 so far for the cause.

Iain added: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to Patshull Park, who were fantastic with us, and to our friends and family for the donations and the support as well as the well wishes throughout the day.”

For more information, or to make an online donation, visit www.justgiving.com/WollastonGolfSociety/