Golfer Bob tees up for Martyn's Monday Club

Top golfer Bob MacIntyre is putting swing power behind mental health support in his home town.

 

Martyn's Monday Club in Oban was surprised to see its logo on his tour bag while the 23-year-old was preparing for the WGC-Mexico Championship.

 

The peer support group, working hard across the community with both men and women to talk about their mental health struggles and to prevent suicide, now hopes to set up a meeting with Bob and invite him to keep promoting its life-saving message.

 

Bob tweeted: 'On my bag this year is something that’s close to me and my family, Martyn’s Monday Club is a mental heath support group in my home town who are doing a great job if anyone is struggling with mental health please please don’t be scared to talk #togetherwecandothis.'

 

The tweet prompted a surge of positive messages from followers. 'Nice touch. The Scottish male is not accustomed to admitting to his vulnerability and its people like Robert who can change that,' said one.

 

Robert Cruickshanks, whose 37-year-old son Martyn took his own life in 2018, said Bob and his family have always supported the club but seeing the logo on his tour bag, taking the mental health awareness message out to the world, came as a surprise.

 

'It was a lovely surprise for all at Martyn's Monday Club. To think that the club is now on world tour with Bob is absolutely amazing.

 

'It will be nice when everyone picks up on what has happened with Bob and his bag and we look  forward to seeing it  travel as far as we can. We get great support from the community far and wide but Bob and his family have been supporters from the very beginning, showing that support to us in all forms.

 

'Something you can say for Bob is that he has his feet placed firmly on the ground but I'm sure the pressure of playing at the height of your game has to show somewhere,' said Mr Cruickshanks.

 

In Scotland one in three people suffer from mental health issues.

 

'I think we have a meeting arranged to sit round the table with Bob when he gets back off tour and see where we can go from here. Hopefully he will continue to support Martyn's Monday Club and getting our name and message out there.'

 

Last year more than £2,700 was raised for the club by Martyn's friends and family who climbed Ben Nevis, this year they are putting together a team to Get Muddy for Martyn, taking on the Tough Mudder Challenge on July 5 at Dalkeith Countrypark. Go to Get Muddy for Martyn 2020 on Facebook to find out more.