Its a marathon of a day, do you accept the challenge?
Putt your golfing to the test by completing 72 hole's in just 1 day. Its simple:
- Choose any day that works for you
- Get your friends involved or go it alone
- Raise money to support bereaved families and save babies lives
Get your FREE challenge pack
When you sign up, either as a solo golfer or a 2/3/4 ball, your fundraising page will be set up for you automatically. We will also send you a fundraising pack in the post, including:
- 1 Sands Golf Marker to use on the greens.
- 3 Sands Golf Tees's to help you drive off.
- 1 Golf for Sands poster to pop up at work or in the club house.
- 1 Golf for Sands 'Guess my time' Sweepstake sheet to encourage those donations.
- 1 paper sponsorship form.
If you simply cant wait for your pack or require extra materials you can download all the resources online.
Golf Monthly editor Mike Harris, teamed up with Sands Ambassador, broadcaster and fellow golfer Genelle Aldred, to take on a golfing challenge for Sands in 2023.
“As an ambassador for Sands since 2020 it has been a real honour to be part of supporting bereaved parents. I know all too well the journey of baby loss, my daughter Sade died in 2002 and it rocked my entire world.
“Playing golf has been beneficial for my mental and physical health. Getting out on the course, in nature and away from what loss and life throw at me, has been so good for my wellbeing over the past 12 months. So, the chance to play golf with Mike and raise some money for Sands was an easy yes!”
- Sands Ambassador, author and broadcaster, Genelle Aldred
Genelle, along with Golf Monthly editor, Mike Harris, took to the course in 2023 to raise money for Sands. Together they raised an amazing £2505! This amount is the equivalent of answering nearly 70 calls from people reaching out for support who have been through pregnancy or baby loss.
“Genelle and I are took on the Golf for Sands Challenge to ensure that everyone affected by the loss of a baby can get the support they need and deserve when facing the toughest of times.
“My wife and I lost two babies in late pregnancy. Christopher on September 21, 2007 and Rohaise three years later on May 21, 2010. We are blessed to have a daughter who turned 18 last year, but the loss of her brother and sister has cast a huge shadow over our lives and affected us in ways we never thought possible.
“Golf has always been so much more than a game for me; it’s given me an outlet when feelings of sadness or stress bubble up in my life. The golf course is a place to think and reflect and my time playing always helps me process whatever it is that’s going around in my mind.”
- Mike Harris
Challenge FAQ's
How do I sign up?
Sign up using Enthuse. This will register your challenge, order your fundraising pack and set up your fundraising page - all in one.
I've just signed up, now what?
Decide where you will be taking on the challenge. Make sure your Golf Course of choice is aware of your challenge as it will take longer to complete than a standard round!
Make sure your share your fundraising page far and wide, you can also ask to put a sponsorship form up in the club house/bar.
Is there an entry fee?
No, but we do ask you fundraise as part of your challenge. Your fundraising page will be set up automatically when you sign up. You can also use our sponsorship form and 'Guess my time' sweepstake sheet to encourage donations.
Is there a fundraising target?
We have no minimum or maximum amount that we would like you to raise. From our point of view, no matter how much you raise, it will go towards supporting bereaved families across the UK.
Golfers who raise over £150 will receive a thank you certificate in the post.
Every little really does help:
- Just £1 sends a personalised email from one of our dedicated campaigners to their local MP urging them to take action to improve maternity safety.
- £19.93 can provide a bereaved family a memory box to help create and keep safe precious and lasting memories of their baby.
- £36.02 could answer a call from someone reaching out for support who has been through pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
- £76 could help cover the costs of a Sands United football team for one week to support bereaved men and their families.
When will I get my fundraising pack?
Packs ordered should be received within 10 working days of signing up. If there are any queries, please email shop@shop-sands.org.uk and we can look in to this for you.
My family/friends want to do the challenge with me, can we do it as a team?
Of course, if you are taking on the challenge solo, as a pair, as a three or four ball - its up to you! Just be mindful the more people you have, the longer it will take to complete. But of course, the more people you have, the more moral support you have to get you through as well.
Do I have to prove I have completed the challenge?
You don't need to prove you've taken on the challenge - we trust you! You can post videos, pictures and updates on your fundraising page and on social media. Sharing updates is a great way to show those who have sponsored you that you are committed to completing the challenge.
How do I send you my sponsorship form?
If you have collected cash donations and have a completed sponsorship form, do scan and email this to us at fundraising@sands.org.uk so we can claim any gift aid. If you are not able to scan or send us a clear photograph, drop us an email anyway and we can let you know where to send your form via post.
Will I get a certificate?
Everyone who has raised money and confirmed they would like a certificate will be sent one. We will ask you to confirm when you have finished your challenge and finished fundraising to ensure we print the correct final total on your certificate.
How do I pay in my fundraising?
If you have collected offline fundraising, the easiest way to pay this to Sands is by donating it to your fundraising page.
If you are not able to donate this way, then drop us and email to fundraising@sands.org.uk and we can discuss other ways of getting your donations to us.
Do you have golf polo shirts we can order/purchase?
We haven't developed a Sands polo shirt as of yet, we are looking at this for future events.
We do have Sands T-shirts which can be purchased from our shop, however we know not all courses would be accepting of a shirt with no collar.
We would welcome you to dress in Sands colours. If you would like to print our logo on your own polo shirt then please get in touch with the fundraising team who will be able to send you a high resolution image to use. Fundraising@sands.org.uk