The Big Golf Race, the UK’s biggest golf fundraiser that encourages players to go the extra mile and raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, benefited from its partnership with award-winning podcast The Chipping Forecast, with many listeners around the UK signing up and contributing to the game-changing charity drive.
Over the 12-week period, over half-a-million (604,177) listeners tuned in to hear acclaimed host and leading commentator Andrew Cotter encourage golfers from up and down the country to sign-up and take part in The Big Golf Race. Alongside him as cost-host is DP World Tour player and fan favourite Eddie Pepperell, plus special guest BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.
Listeners such as Gordon Rea, who contacted the show – which was the #1 golf podcast in the UK during the partnership – after hearing the hosts talk about The Big Golf Race, organised 32 players to play 72 holes at Helen’s Bay Golf Club in Bangor, Northern Ireland and raised over £22,000.
“It’s brilliant to hear our show had an impact on golfers raising money for such a great cause,” said Cotter. “We enjoyed listening to the inspirational stories of Big Golf Race challenges across the UK and Ireland and well done to all those who completed them.”
Another listener, Ailsa, had her message read out by Cotter during one of the shows. She wrote: “I love listening to The Chipping Forecast and it inspired me to sign up for The Big Golf Race. My dad has been living with prostate cancer for about 10 years and I’m hoping to complete my 72-hole challenge at St Fillans Golf Club with a dog or two spurring me on!”
Listeners peaked at 57,619 during the episode featuring an interview with Scotland and British and Irish Lions rugby player Craig Chalmers, who revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis late last year.
“To partner with such a high-profile podcast with recognisable hosts has been a real privilege and it’s been great to see the impact the show has had on listeners saying they’re taking part in The Big Golf Race or want to sign-up having heard about it,” said Seren Evans, Head of Events and Community Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK.
Another listener, Barry Watt, wrote into the show with a personal message after his dad was successfully treated for prostate cancer. “Just a short note to say thank you for using your platform to raise awareness for prostate cancer. I signed up to The Big Golf Race and completed 128 holes yesterday – after originally planning 101 – after hearing the promos on TCF.”
Since its inception in 2020, more than 14,000 golfers have taken part in The Big Golf Race and have now helped raise £4.4m to fund lifesaving research to radically improve the way the most common cancer in men is diagnosed and treated. This year alone, more than 2,800 36-, 72- or 100-hole challenges have been undertaken by UK golfers, raising over £1m for life-saving research.