Talented young golfer tee's off fundraiser at Ballymac

Gifted young golfer, George Hughes, tee'd off his impressive fundraising tour at Ballymascanlon Golf Course on Thursday morning.

The seven-year-old is set to raise £100, 000 in proceeds for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association in memory of his late father, Dave Hughes, who passed away following complications from a heart transplant.

The Wigan youngster will play at Cloverhill Golf Club, Wigtownshire County Golf Club, Chester Golf Club, and Hawarden Golf Club, after the Ballymac.

Before teeing off George beamed: “I am good. I feel confident and I think I can do it.

“I have put in so much practice that I play every single week for about 2 hours. I play in a junior competition every Sunday and play on other Northern Junior Tours.

“I like it here at the Ballymac golf course. It is very nice and very posh. I had so much fun coming over to Ireland on the ferry. I played FC 24 and watched a movie – The Trolls Band Together.”

George first began playing golf at 18-months old and he currently attends the Tommy Fleetwood Academy.

“I met Tommy Fleetwood before I met him in December. Being in his school is really cool and you get to do loads of different activities,” he said.

His grandfather Tony Sedgwick told the Democrat: “It's nerve wracking now. This has taken months and months to put together sending thousands of emails and it is the people like the Ballymascanlon that has made it easier for us.

“Now that it is actually here it is nerve wracking it really is. Whereas George is so laid back and just wants to hit the ball. It's amazing. He is going to raise £100,000 for the Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association”

The 53-year-old said: “George plays a lot of golf. He plays twice a week but he has never done something as big as this playing over 5 courses.

“He has played a couple of 18 holes over a couple of days and he just loves golf so he is going to go and smash it. He is going to be playing 9 holes in each as we couldn't get the 18 holes in.

“To complete 9 holes on 5 courses in 5 countries in 24 hours is a mammoth task for an adult, but for a little 7-year old boy it is just mind blowing.

He continued: “We only got here last night. We got the ferry in, it was a bit late but he has been on the putting green this morning and he has been in the nets.

“What a venue this is for any golfer, you must visit this location. It is fantastic. From here we are going to Cloverhill, then getting the ferry back from Belfast to Scotland to Wigtownshire.

“Then we are driving through the night; George will have about 4 hours sleep before he plays Chester in the morning and then he is playing Hawarden on Friday morning to complete the 24 hours,” he said.

“The exciting news is that Sky Sports are going to be there on his final day to film him so it is just amazing. A little boy from Wigan and the media are all over him. We are so grateful to everybody involved."

After the event Sedgwick added: “George teed off from the men’s yellow tees at Ballymascanlon and was greeted with 30 people supporting him on the 1st tee.

“That didn’t faze him as he creamed his driver down the middle of the fairway, and it will be a special tee shot he’ll remember for a long time as it was the start of his 9 courses on 5 courses in 5 countries in just 24 hours.

“Ballymascanlon was an amazing golf complex with a very well-manicured course and then we headed off on a short drive through country lanes to a hidden gem in Cloverhill golf club, which has views to die for.

“The people at both Ballymascanlon and Cloverhill have been so welcoming to George and the team following him about, with nothing being too much trouble to help get round the courses in quick time to then get back to Belfast and onto the ferry to continue his challenge of playing Wigtownshire.

“We were taken aback by the generosity of strangers, not just wishing George all the best but offering a kind donation to his Just Giving page.

“George was accompanied by 4 family members who all play golf and everyone of them would love to return and play the two courses themselves as it was only George playing on his challenge.

“Whilst it has taken months of organising this challenge, it was certainly helped by the professional members of Ballymascanlon and Cloverhill, who basically allowed George free use of the course and making sure everything was in place to make it a smooth 9 holes of golf.

“Both courses will hold a very special place in hearts and it will be something George can remember and tell his own children about in years to come.

“Finally, we are still aiming to get George up to the £100,000 and are grateful for all donations, however small or big because every penny counts.”

Support George's efforts at: George Hughes is fundraising for Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association (justgiving.com)