A GOLF fanatic has raised thousands of pounds for charity by playing at every course in the North-East.

Dave Whiteley ended his golf marathon yesterday by playing 18 holes at Rockliffe Hall Golf Course, near Darlington, with European tour professional Graeme Storm.

As well as raising more than £2,000 for WaterAid, the 58-year-old estimates he has walked 500 miles, played 8,500 shots and parred 700 holes.

Mr Whiteley, from Tynemouth, who works as a facilities manager at Northumbrian Water, said he realised a few years ago that he had By David Roberts david.roberts@nne.co.uk played about 75 per cent of the 111 courses in the water company’s supply area.

He decided to play the rest of the courses before the end of 2010 and raise money for WaterAid, which provides clean drinking water in third world countries.

He said: “I’ve completed 14 rounds before work this year, waiting for daybreak to get started.

“It has been worth it as had it not been for the challenge, there are many courses and new holes I wouldn’t have played.”

He has been supported in his efforts by his friend, Mike Beattie.

Mr Beattie, whose company MBE Ltd, contracts to Northumbrian Water, has sponsored Mr Whiteley £1 for every one of the 1,811 holes he played.

Mr Beattie said: “Dave asked us to sponsor him but didn’t reveal how many holes he was going to play, so I agreed £1 a hole.

“It’s for a good cause, so when the figure was announced we did it.”

Mr Storm said: “It’s a great thing that he’s done and it was good to get involved and play a round at Rockliffe which is a fabulous venue for him to finish it off.”

Mr Whiteley, who is chairman of Tynemouth Golf Club plays with a handicap of 14.

His golfing challenge is the latest mission for the dedicated WaterAid supporter who has carried out a number of stunts for the charity.

They include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and building a “toilet bicycle” with a real toilet and cistern attached as the seat.