A budding golfer is on course to raise £100,000 for charity by playing a round in five different countries in under 24 hours in memory of his late father.<br /><br />George Hughes, aged seven, could break a world record if he completes the epic challenge in tribute to his dad Dave Hughes who sadly died from heart transplant complications.<br /><br />The lad, who will be playing nine holes in each nation, will kick off his fundraising effort when he tees off in Ireland at 9.30am on June 20.<br /><br />He will then head to a club for a game north of the border and later catch a ferry to Scotland where he’ll play another round just before sundown. <br /><br />The following morning, he’ll tee off at a course in England at 6.30am before going to Wales, where he’ll complete his monumental task just over two hours later.<br /><br />George, who first picked up a bag of sticks at just 18 months old and is now a member of the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, said he was revelling at the challenge.<br /><br />He said: “I'm so excited at playing five new courses, plus I get to go on a ferry where I might see some dolphins.<br /><br />“Imagine if I get a hole-in-one when doing the challenge, that would be amazing.<br /><br />“My mum doesn't know how early I have to tee off, so it's a secret between me and my grandad but it will be fine as I can sleep in the car.”<br /><br />George has so far raised over £77,000 for the Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association, in Newcastle, which helped his mum, Louise Hughes, and dad during his health battle.<br /><br />And his grandad Tony Sedgwick, 53, who nurtured his golfing talents, said his drive to bring in donations had touched people around the world.<br /><br />He said: “He’s giving back to a charity that was unbelievably supportive to Louise.<br /><br />“Without them, it would have cost thousands with what she had to go through, staying up in Newcastle, and there are a lot of unsung heroes.<br /><br />“The money George has raised has just been phenomenal. It’s just unbelievable because he’s touched people all over the world.”<br /><br />Louise, 30, now a nurse, added: “I was a bit apprehensive about him doing five courses.<br /><br />"But I think he’ll absolutely smash it because his passion for golf is strong, he absolutely loves it.”<br /><br />George was only one when his dad tragically passed away at the age of 32 following heart transplant surgery.<br /><br />He had suffered from a congenital heart condition and had waited four and half years for a donor organ, which it was hoped would prolong his life.<br /><br />But due to a rare complication, his donor heart failed, and he tragically died 11 weeks after the operation.<br /><br />The toddler was left completely heartbroken by the loss, with Louise saying he would often “cry and ask for his daddy”.<br /><br />However, within weeks, he picked up his first set of plastic golf clubs, which Tony bought him, and quickly began to excel at the game in his back garden. <br /><br />By the age of three, the talented toddler could hit a ball around 100 yards and had finished his first hole in just 11 shots.<br /><br />Tony said: “Golf was a distraction for George. But for me, as a Grandad, it’s fantastic that I can get out and play with him on a course.<br /><br />“He’s doing very, very well. On a 340-yard hole, he’ll be paring it. He’s a consistent hitter of the ball. He’s improving vastly.<br /><br />“Golf has been such an inspiration for him, and it’s helping him, but it’s also turning him into a fine young man because he’s playing with adults."<br /><br />George, who is sponsored by retailer American Golf, recently met his hero, Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood, ranked at number 13 in the world.<br /><br />He is now being trained by Fleetwood’s former coach, Norman Marshall, who said he had the right attitude to be a future champion.<br /><br />He said: “We know that what goes into making a champion is largely unseen: character, determination, courage, resilience and enthusiasm.<br /><br />“In George, we are beginning to see all of these qualities shine through, to compliment his undoubted golfing talent.”<br /><br />George’s mammoth five-country golfing fundraiser will see him play his first nine holes at the Ballymascanlan resort in Ireland. <br /><br />He’ll then hop across the border to Cloverhill Golf Club, near Newry, before driving to a ferry and getting to his last tee time at another club in Scotland prior to nightfall. <br /><br />George will then rise early the next morning for a 6.30am round played in Chester. And to top off his challenge, he will finish at a club in North Wales before 9.30am<br /><br />Alongside this event, George is hosting his own junior golf day for 100 players in May this year.<br /><br />Visit https://justgiving.com/page/george-hughes-170299567467 to donate to George’s incredible fundraiser.
