Using Golf as a Positive Force for Change
On Sunday 21st September 2025, Speakeasy Club will partner with Zach Gould Golf, with support from Wales Golf, for a very special 40-mile “Bench-to-Bench Walk”. The route begins at the world-famous Celtic Manor Resort and ends at the historic Glamorganshire Golf Club – the birthplace of the Stableford scoring system.
The walk will pass through five golf clubs and five Speakeasy Benches, celebrating the power of golf to bring people together, build community, and support better mental health.
Each Speakeasy Bench carries a simple but powerful message: You’re Not On Your Own. Every bench also features a QR code linking to free online resources, offering immediate help to anyone who may be struggling.
Golf as a Catalyst for Connection
For many, golf is about much more than the scorecard – it’s about friendship, belonging, and being part of something bigger. That message is felt strongly by Ria Burriage-Male, a new member at Pontypridd Golf Club, one of the stops along the route.
“I used to enjoy playing golf with my family when I was younger. Recently I returned to Pontypridd GC and it’s been a game-changer. I love the competition, I love the camaraderie and I love the fact I can go out and play a few holes on my own. Enjoying the fresh air, green spaces, and the freedom it brings has been huge for my mental health.” – Ria Burriage-Male
Walking for Better Mental Health
Since the very first Bench-to-Bench Walk in September 2024, over 50 walkers have collectively covered more than 1,000 miles to raise awareness and funds.
For Speakeasy founder Simon Clarke, this September’s walk holds special meaning:
“We’ve already walked over a thousand miles between 37 sports clubs and 32 of our benches, but this one is special. It finishes at Glamorganshire Golf Club – where I grew up playing, and the only club I’ve ever wanted to be part of. Golf has given me so much on and off the course, and these benches are about giving something back – building communities, providing free resources, and showing people they’re not on their own.” – Simon Clarke, Speakeasy Founder
Building the Future Together
Funds raised from the walk will go directly into expanding Speakeasy’s work – building more benches, providing free mental health resources, and supporting new-to-golf programmes that give more people the chance to experience the game’s benefits first-hand.
Theo Baker, Head of Participation and Club Governance at Wales Golf, said:
“Wales Golf is proud to support the Bench-to-Bench Walk, highlighting the role golf can play in building connection, community, and positive mental health. Together we can make a lasting impact, both on and off the course. It’s important that there is a legacy to challenges like this, and we’re looking forward to working with Simon and the Speakeasy team to expand this support across Wales.”
Zach Gould, former Junior Ryder Cup player and now one of golf’s leading health and fitness experts, added:
“Golf has been such a big part of my life – from the highs of representing Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup to now helping golfers improve their health and fitness. But what matters most is how the game brings people together. The Speakeasy Bench-to-Bench Walk is an incredible way of showing that golf is about more than sport – it’s about connection, wellbeing, and supporting each other on and off the course.” – Zach Gould
???? “On and off the course, golf has the power to change lives.” – Zach Gould
Simon Clarke concluded:
“With over 20 years’ experience in the sport and leisure sector, we know the financial pressures clubs and governing bodies face. Everything we do is designed to relieve that pressure. Sport has the power to connect people in ways health and social services can’t always reach. By working with Wales Golf, we want to roll out more benches across clubs, support new-to-golf initiatives, and make mental health a natural part of the game.”
Event Details
- Date: Sunday 21st September 2025
- Route: Celtic Manor Resort → Newport Golf Club → Pontypridd Golf Club → Radyr Golf Club → Glamorganshire Golf Club
- Distance: Approx. 40 miles
- Cause: Raising funds for Speakeasy benches, mental health resources, and community programmes
Wales Golf – www.walesgolf.org
Zach Gould Golf – www.zachgouldgolf.co.uk
Speakeasy Club CIC – www.speakeasyclub.co.uk