‘Mongrels’ supporting mental health 

Micah Hewson, Ashley Denovan, Mongrels Men Founder Tim Hewson and Russell Denovan at the recent Mongrels Golf day at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast.

Mongrels Golf Tim Hewson is the founder of Mongrels Men, an Australian charity that harnesses the power of golf to support mental health initiatives. Established in 2008, the organization began as a casual gathering of mates playing golf but has since evolved into a significant force for mental health awareness and support. Hewson’s vision was to create a space where men could connect, share experiences, and discuss mental health in a non-judgmental environment.

Inside Golf’s Andrew Crockett spoke with Hewson in digging deeper into Mongrels Men and their goals and aspirations at their recent Charity Golf Day at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast. 

What was the motivation to get Mongrels Men started?

The very first ‘Mongrel Masters’ was in 2008. A mate and I wanted to catch up for a game of golf, but with work, family, and kids, it was tough to find time. The only weekend that worked was three months in advance. So, we thought, why not invite a few other blokes along? Before we knew it, we had a golf weekend planned. It turned into a competition, and like any good competition, it needed a trophy. We looked at ourselves—different shapes, sizes, ages, and cultural backgrounds—and thought, “We’re just a motley pack of mongrels.” That’s how it started.

The next year, there were 20 blokes, then 30, then 40. Now, our annual NSW charity golf day has 100 players, and we’ve established a clear charity focus. The Mongrel Masters has morphed from being a weekend away to play golf, to one of the charity’s annual fundraising events.

Are you operating out of Sydney?

Yes, but we’ve just had our first Queensland charity golf day at Emerald Lakes. Over the past 12 months, we’ve built five communities in Queensland. With more to come

Can you describe what your established communities look like?

As a charity, we have three core programs: Community Meetups, the Dog House program, and our Mental Health Workshops.

The Community Meet Ups are designed to get guys out of bed and off the couch—moving, talking, connecting, and forming new support networks. These meetups could be a bunch of blokes getting together for a sunrise walk, a coffee, and a chat. The idea is to get them moving while having shoulder-to-shoulder conversations, which helps them open-up without the pressure of face-to-face interaction. We currently have 13 community champions running events and activities across New South Wales and Queensland.

The Dog House workshops are a space for shelter and learning. We bring in specialist speakers each month to run workshops on topics like breathwork, meditation, burnout prevention, time management, or even gut health and sleep. It’s all about adding tools to the resilience toolkit, so blokes have something to rely on when times get tough.

Our third pillar is the Mental Health workshop. This is a full-day education seminar focused on understanding mental health illnesses and disorders, recognizing the signs, and teaching blokes how to have difficult conversations around topics like suicide. We also equip them with the knowledge to support themselves and others.

Back to the golf—how was your charity day at Emerald Lakes this year?

We had 30 players, which was fantastic. But for us, it’s never been about the numbers—it’s about creating an environment for guys to connect and talk. Just bringing two blokes together to have a meaningful conversation is a win. Mental Health Month is in October, and the 2024 theme was “Let’s talk about it.” So, we encouraged everyone to dig deeper and have those more meaningful conversations beyond just playing a round of golf.

Which sponsors supported the day?

Australian Money Market, Q Properties, Beneficial Beer Co, and it was great to have Inside Golf magazine represented as well.

The Mongrels Golf day attracted a crowd of more than 30 at their first event held in Queensland.

Any advice on how to approach tough conversations on the golf course?

Whether on the golf course or elsewhere, it’s as simple as checking in and being curious. Ask a mate if they’re okay, but listen beyond the “Yeah, mate, all good” response. Often, we get a joke or a half-truth in return. So, we encourage guys to scratch under the surface a bit. If your mate hasn’t been showing up to golf as often as usual, give him a call and see how he’s doing.

Life can be a lot like golf—we all spend some time in the rough. Things can get challenging, and just as you need to work together and practice to get back on track, the same applies in life. It’s about helping a mate get to where they need to be, even if that means encouraging them to seek professional help.

What are your key goals for the next 12 months in Australia?

Looking five years ahead, we want 800 locations across the country. Right now, we’re focused on establishing a presence in every state over the next 12 months. We also aim to expand into rural, regional, remote and indigenous communities. Our rural communities are growing in Outback Queensland. We’ve got a community in Barcaldine, and Longreach will launch in November. The key is maintaining a consistent presence in rural, regional and remote communities and they don’t always have reliable access to medical services, so our Meet Ups are a lifeline for many blokes.

Another priority is growing our volunteer base. We’re a volunteer-run organization, so the more Community Champions we can bring on board to run our communities, the greater the impact we can have. Lastly, awareness is crucial for us as a new charity. We want to spread the word about who we are, what we do, and the positive impact we’re making on men’s lives.