Golfer takes swing at world record

An avid golfer has given up his business to try and break the world record for the number of golf courses played in a year.

Josh Simpson, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, is attempting to beat the current record of 580 courses - set by American Patrick Koenig.

The 27-year-old, who is living out of a campervan during the challenge, decided to pursue the record after his mother died suddenly following a cancer diagnosis.

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Mum never got the opportunity to retire and that put everything into perspective. It's in memory of her and we're raising money for two charities."

All the money raised will be split between Macmillan Cancer Support and Tapping House Hospice in King's Lynn.

Starting his challenge on 24 January, Mr Simpson needs to keep above 1.59 courses per day on average to keep on world record pace.

By day 110 he had completed 179 different courses, which is an average of 1.63 a day.

"In the last couple of weeks I've broken over the world record pace," he said.

"The start of the year was pretty tough, but now I'm trying to build up some leeway in case I pick up an injury or there's some adverse weather towards the end of the year.

"It's easily the hardest thing I've ever done, but I know I'm privileged to be doing this."

During his travels around the UK, he said he some chance meetings with people who wanted to be part of his journey.

"I've played a round with an opera singer," he said.

"I ended up round a Premier League footballer's mother-in-law's house! It was a random encounter at one of the clubhouses I visited. I ended up walking out with about £1,000 worth of Adidas gear, because he's not sponsored by them anymore," he said.

He says he is saving the courses closer to home for later so he has a good excuse to travel back as the challenge comes to a close.

"I want to leave a few alone so if I have to play a couple over Christmas, I can do that and visit home," he said.

You can follow Josh's progress online here.

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