A village golf club will be playing host to a number of clubs to celebrate the 40th birthday of the South West Coast Path.

Golfers from “all corners of the south west peninsula” are coming together on Friday, October 5 at Thurlestone Golf Club to play in a charity open event as part of the 40 FOR 40 campaign.

The campaign, led by the South West Coast Path Association, aims to raise £40,000 in celebration of the national trail’s 40th anniversary.

The day will see 80 golfers from all over the south west peninsula to show their support for the trail that hugs the edge of the golf course. Members will be coming from clubs including Purbeck Golf Club, Dorset; Burnham & Berrow, Somerset; Bovey Tracey, Devon; and Trevose, Cornwall for a day of golf, food and sea views.

Philip Moss, member at Threthorne, Cornwall, explained why he is travelling 50 miles from his home club to play in the association’s open.

He said: “Walking the South West Coast Path with my family is such a joy, as I know it is for many people, and one that I don’t think we should take for granted.

“I am delighted to be able to give back to the trail whilst enjoying my favourite hobby.”

The day has been made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses including Bush & Co Accountants, who are the headline sponsors of the event, Charley Stanley Investment Managers, St Austell Brewing, and Thurlestone Hotel, who have donated the top prize of a luxury stay.

Shane Cann, director at Bush & Co, said: “Bush & Co are delighted to support the South West Coast Path Golf Fundraiser once again. With over 600 miles of pathway to maintain, the work carried is so important for this part of the landscape, enjoyed by so many different users, from ramblers to birdwatchers.

“Without the work carried out by the charity, the south west coast line would be a poorer place and much less enjoyed.”

The SWCPA is the charity that works to protect and champion the trail. The charity recognises that “approximately nine million people use the path every year, but many don’t realise the hard work that goes into keeping the coastline accessible”.

It estimates that “due to budget cuts, increasingly extreme weather battering the coast, natural erosion, human erosion caused by an increasing amount of users, infrastructure like bridges, way-markers, and steps”, the association needs to raise £1,000 per mile per year just to keep the 630 mile trail open.

There are still a few spaces available on the South West Coast Path Association’s Open, and tickets include lunch. Interested parties can download a registration form at www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/events/golf/.