A Croydon golfer is hoping that the long days of mid-summer will allow him to complete a 100-hole challenge this week, and help him raise thousands of pounds for one of the borough’s most inspiring youth charities.
Teeing off: James Miller is trying to complete 100 holes at Croham Hurst in one day
James Miller, a member of the greenkeeping team at Croham Hurst Golf Club, will be teeing off at 4.30am on Friday at the start of what he hopes will be more than five rounds of golf in the space of one day – all to raise money for the Legacy Youth Zone, the chosen charity of club captain Ian Harris.
Miller, 28, has been playing golf since his teens – he started out at the public pay-and-play course at Addington Court – and was a single-figure handicapper by the time he was 17. The Holy Grail of becoming a scratch golfer has still eluded him, but Friday’s gruelling day-long challenge should at least help get his game in robust shape.
Croham Hurst is a Par 70 course, so Miller might expect to hit close to 400 shots during the course of the day, as well as covering almost 20 miles across the rolling Croydon countryside. As a greenkeeper, he might want to trim some of the deep rough from the edge of the fairways this week – lost balls could prove costly in terms of lost time come the challenge.
This is Croham Hurst GC’s Gala Week, a festival of golf and social events, with the captain’s charity the main beneficiary.
“I was delighted to be asked,” Miller told Inside Croydon, “but then it hit me that he was asking me to play more than five and a half rounds of golf in a single day! It will be tough, tiring… but ultimately very satisfying – assuming I finish before midnight!
Long way down the fairway: Croham Hurst has been challenging Croydon golfers since 1911 – but none has before tried to play 100 holes in a single day
Club captain Harris will be “on the bag” as caddy for the first round, which could take at least three hours. “I hope his eyesight is good in case I hit the ball into the rough,” Miller said.
“It will be fun, as long as the rain stays away. It’s a lot of golf, but we hope there will be a good crowd to welcome me when I finish, and plenty of donations to Legacy Youth Zone. I have even sponsored myself to complete this challenge.”
Miller visited the Legacy Youth Zone, in Selhurst, last week. “Legacy gives young people the opportunity for a safe environment to go to, whether it is to have fun and chill with friends, a place to do homework or even to speak to someone if they have issues – not to mention they have an amazing sports hall!”
Croham Hurst GC is actively encouraging youngsters, including members of the Legacy Youth Zone, to come along to South Croydon to try playing golf. Legacy members can be sponsored to have lessons with Croham Hurst’s Golf Professional, Adam Aram.
“More importantly, it’s about just having fun,” Miller says, “whether it is hitting balls on the golf range, trying your hand at putting on the putting green, and always makes sure you have fun when you play your first full round of golf – and don’t take it too seriously!”
- You can sponsor James Miller’s 100-hole challenge here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-and-suecrohamhurstcaptainscharity.
- Or get along to Croham Hurst Golf Club on Friday to cheer him on and encourage his fund-raising effort – it could be a very long day, but the clubhouse should be open throughout!
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What a great fundraising idea and a great cause for the funds raised. Best of luck to James!