We are delighted that Matt has joined our BRIT Ambassador family and is championing the BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK. Matt is a former Golf Professional and an experienced Golf Administrator. He continues to work with England Golf’s Championships Review Group and was also an Advisory Board Member for the 2020 World Deaf Golf Championships and part of the Lead Strategic Group for England Golf’s “increasing Membership and Participation” (IMP) initiative. Matt is also an Adventure Seeker who has completed a wealth of physical challenges. He has also published a book, My Book of Full Breaths, an experience journal and adventure planner, is a Scout Troop Leader and qualified Mental Health First Aider.
“Having played golf, worked with England Golf, England Deaf Golf and UK Deaf Sport, volunteered with the UK Scouting Association and as a Mental Health First Aider, I know that we must do more to support students, staff and the elite amateur or professional golfer in order to avoid them facing long-term mental health difficulties. This is a critical time for student mental health and I am encouraged that BRIT are determined to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK by delivering their annual BRIT Challenge and uniting the Education, Sport and Charity sectors. It’s an awesome achievement for BRIT to have forged so many partnerships and special relationships with governing bodies and I very much hope that in time England Golf, England Deaf Golf and the Professional Golfers’ Association will explore how they can work closely with BRIT.
The annual BRIT Challenge is a feelgood February fundraiser for every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage student and staff participation. I hope that every university and college throughout the Midlands will enter teams and take on the BRIT Challenge. It’s fantastic that the BRIT Challenge is inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part and work as a team to cover the 2,022 mile distance by either hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).
I am honoured to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family to promote the BRIT Challenge, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. I urge my golfing connections in both the Elite Amateur and Professional arena to join our BRIT Ambassador family and assist in encouraging universities, colleges and students to take part in the annual BRIT Challenge.
I would be delighted to support and encourage students and staff at the University of Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon College and Warwickshire College Group as they take on the BRIT Challenge." Matt Nixon Adventure Seeker, Former Golf Professional and Golf Administrator
After attending the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Training Academy, Matt was PGA qualified in 1999. After working as a professional for the Julian Krinsky Group, Matt spent six years as the Head Professional at the Menzies Welcombe Hotel, Spa and Golf Course, two years as Head Professional and Director of Golf at the Bankhouse Hotel and Golf Course, whilst also working freelance on numerous events such as the Jaguar World Golf Final and the Audi Quattro Cup. Matt has been an Executive Board Member of the Midland Golf Union since 2011.
Since 2013, Matt has been Chairman of Midland Golf League. Between 2014 and 2016, Matt was part of the Lead Strategic Group for England Golf’s “increasing Membership and Participation” (IMP) initiative. This two year programme was utilised to put new initiatives and ideas to the test with an aim to increase Membership and Participation of the game in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. Since 2016, Matt has been a member of England Golf’s Championship Working Group who assist in England Golf’s review of all Championships delivered by the National Governing Body. Between 2018 and 2020, Matt was an Advisory Board Member for the 2020 World Deaf Golf Championships. He worked closely with Event Director Stuart Harrison, UK Deaf Sport and England Deaf Golf to assist in the overall planning and delivery of the Championships. Matt is currently Operational Director for Warwickshire Golf Union. In addition to his many Golf appointments, Matt has been a Scout Troop Leader since 2018 and a qualified Mental Health First Aider since 2020. Matt is an Adventure Seeker and pre-2012, had travelled round the world with his wife, working in Philadelphia, USA and Sydney, Australia along the way. He also attained his Dive Leader qualification from BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club). Between 2012 and 2014, despite undergoing back surgery, Matt completed The Fan Dance; a 23km SAS style Test March up and down Pen-y-Fan (twice) with a 35lb bergen. In 2017, Matt completed Man v Mountain; a 22mile Adventure Race up Snowdon from Sea Level.
In 2018, Matt completed a 300km Husky Expedition through Norway, Finland and Sweden, Man v Lakes; a 52km Ultra Adventure Marathon across the Lake District, the Welsh Trail Marathon and the Stratford upon Avon Marathon.
In 2019, Matt Ice Skated 100 miles down a frozen lake in Outer Mongolia.
In 2020, Matt climbed Mount Toubkal (4,167m); the highest peak in North Africa and the Arab World, walked the full length of Stratford on Avon Canal, climbed Ben Nevis and ran a 5km Parkrun in his back garden. In 2021, Matt walked long distance footpath 'The Arden Way' in one day (46km), cycled 315km of the Hebridean Way (10 Islands, 6 Causeways & 2 Ferries), ran a 30km section of the Geo Park Way all through the night, became a Guiness Book of Records Holder for Most Users to complete a 10k run in 24 hours and completed Man v Coast; a 40km adventure race. Matt has also published a book, My Book of Full Breaths, an experience journal and adventure planner.
To read more about Matt, please visit his website. You can follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram. For more information on Golf and Disabled Gold in England, please visit the England Golf website. For more information on Disabled Golf in Northern Ireland, please visit the Disability Sport NI website. For more information on Disabled Golf in Scotland, please visit the Scottish Disability Golf and Curling (SDGC) website. For more information on Golf in Scotland, please visit the Golf Scotland website. For more information on Golf and Disabled Golf in Wales, please visit the Wales Golf website.
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