PGA Professionals trek 100 holes to benefit Folds of Honor Foundation

CARY, N.C. -– In an extraordinary 13-hour effort to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, Prestonwood Country Club Assistant PGA Professionals Brian Burgwyn and Ryan Roberts overcame weather variances and intense exhaustion to play 100 holes in a single day earlier this month. The two carried their golf bags nearly 34 miles and took a total of 875 golf shots as they carded 18 birdies and one eagle.

Their efforts resulted in more than $5,000 raised through 73 donors to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, which salutes the sacrifice of fallen and disabled service members.

“It's hard to truly appreciate what they were subjected to without having witnessed it,” said Michael Carroll, PGA head professional at Prestonwood. “What I was fortune enough to play a supportive role in was one of the most impressive feats of commitment, focus and ambition I have ever seen.”

The two teed off at 5:30 a.m. in the dark and in mid-30-degree temperatures on the club’s Meadows Course, and played with glow-in-the-dark balls until sunrise. The two continued with normal balls for the remainder of the day. However, as darkness set in, their supply of glow-in-the-dark balls dwindled, and they eventually were left to finish up by playing alternate shot on the final two holes with their last shared glow-in-the-dark ball.

“There was ample opportunity to call it a day when the going got tough and to call it with dignity,” said Carroll. “They never even considered it after both being hobbled by the pounding the day had put on them.”

Prestonwood member and retired U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Ben Griffith and U.S. Navy Lt. Rich Witte greeted the two on their finishing hole with a bottle of champagne as a special thank you for their accomplishment.

“After exhaustion had set in, their presence served as a true reminder of what the day and our efforts were truly about,” said Burgwyn. “To have the opportunity to help rally our community in support of those who have sacrificed for our country was truly a blessing.”

“A host of veterans in the local area -- and members at Preston -- could not be prouder of Brian and Ryan,” said Griffith. “It's refreshing to see these young men taking the time and making the effort to support such a wonderful and noble cause as Folds of Honor. It's so important that younger generations continue to recognize the sacrifices of so many men and women who serve and have served on their behalf.  Equally significant, however, is fully understanding the challenges facing the families whose loved ones return home with physical and emotional scars or worse, yet, pay the ultimate price.”