A man from Notting Hill has teed off on a 10,000 mile journey over land which will also see him build Turkmenistan’s first ever golf course.
Anthony Millet is taking part in the annual Mongol Rally, and set off with friend Patrick Colquhoun on July 18.
Known as Team Mongolf, the pair will stop off along the way in Turkmenistan, near the famous Gates of Hell landmark, to build a nine-hole golf course. This is due to happen on Monday (August 3).
It is part of the extra challenge the pair are taking on, which is seeing them play a round of golf in every country they drive through, using the app Hole19 to track their progress.
However, as Turkmenistan has no golf course, the pair decided to build their own, which will include par three, four and five holes.
They will measure the holes, put down temporary tee-off mats and mats with holes on it for the greens. Team Mongolf will then move on, leaving the nine-hold course behind for others to use.
Commenting on the idea, Anthony said: “We figured, seeing as we are attempting to drive to Mongolia anyway, why not play golf along the way – in fact, why not play golf in every country we travel through.
“The idea has resulted in a list of 18 golf courses, ranging from the elite to the default - the only one in the country. In Turkmenistan, we are building our own course as close to the famous Gates of Hell landmark as possible using equipment we have brought with us.”
Rules of the rally state competitors must drive a car which is unsuitable for the terrain, so Team Mongolf is taking on the challenge in a vintage 1986 Porsche 944.
The journey takes the teams from the UK, through mainland Europe, into Western Europe and the former Soviet Union including places such as Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and finally finishes in Mongolia on August 24.
Team Mongolf is raising money for St George’s Ethiopa, and has already collected £25,000 for the charity.
To give money go to www.justgiving.com/TeamMongolf.
