Seve Charity walkers stop off to play the Belfry's 10th

What better way to have a break when walking 300 miles from London to Lytham than to stop off at stay at The Belfry?

Seve Day walkers play the Belfry's 10th hole

The co-founders of YourGolfTravel.com, who walked 300 miles from London to the Open Championship venue to raise money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, stopped at The Belfry on Friday to play at the Brabazon's iconic 10th hole and spend the night in the Hotel.

The 10th was made world-famous when Seve became the first golfer to drive the then 280-yard hole in a match against Nick Faldo during the Hennessy Cognac Cup event in 1978 which he won 2&1.

The following year, Seve returned to The Belfry to win the first ever English Open and then helped Europe win and retain the Ryder Cup on the Brabazon course in 1985 and 1989.

Carrying golf bags and clubs, Andrew Harding and Ross Marshall, who run Europe's largest golf travel company, set off last Tuesday from the London headquarters of Cancer Research UK and are scheduled to reach Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club on Monday ahead of the 141st Open Championship.

Seve won two of his three Open titles at Royal Lytham in 1979 and 1988.

In October, The Belfry will host a star-studded Seve Day Grand Final, shortly after this year's Ryder Cup at Medinah.

A Seve 2012 Trophy and big prizes are expected to attract a field of 72 amateurs looking to honour the Spanish legend.

"Seve Day is a pan-European initiative set up by YourGolfTravel.com and we are only too pleased to support something that honours Seve's memory," said Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at The Belfry.

Dan Grainger, a Belfry Fitness Professional and founder of Five Star Fitness, was on hand to provide massages for both Andrew and Ross once they arrived at the four-time Ryder Cup resort.

Meanwhile, The Belfry's Director of Sales and Marketing, Ian Cross, joined both walkers for the next leg of their journey, covering 41 miles to Great Haywood.

Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.