Golf team takes aim at million-yard challenge

A million yards is almost the distance from Land's End to John O'Groats as the crow flies.

On Friday, a team of nine self-described "extremely average" golfers is attempting to cover that distance in just 24 hours, hitting golf balls almost continuously to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

The challenge, taking place at a golf venue in Hinckley, will see the group use a simulator to record every shot as they target a world-record distance of one million yards.

To achieve it, the team will need to average a 200-yard shot every eight to 10 seconds for an entire day.

"We are not good so there is going to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears," said organiser Richard Adams.

"We will even have a masseuse available and a DJ."

Rather than playing full rounds of golf, the challenge relies on technology that measures the speed and spin of each shot before calculating how far it would have travelled.

"We need technology, because if you hit a golf ball on average 200 yards, that is two football fields, and you can't walk two football fields in eight to 10 seconds," Adams said.

The golfers will rotate throughout the challenge, each hitting balls for five or 10 minutes at a time before handing over to the next person.

Adams said there would also be mandatory pauses roughly every hour because the software can record only 500 shots before needing to be downloaded and reset.

"It has taken a lot of effort and support from the venue DJ's Indoor Golf, and the simulator software team," he said.

The group, whose members are from Nuneaton, say every penny raised will go to Prostate Cancer UK.

According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men in the UK, with about 12,300 deaths each year.

The fundraiser has also attracted support from golfer and YouTube creator Rick Shiels, who has donated prizes to be auctioned during the event.

"The prizes will be auctioned off and the money will go to the charity - and hopefully we will find a cure," Adams said.

If the team manages to hit the million-yard target before time runs out, there is no plan to stop.

"We'll keep on pushing further," he said.

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.