A friend of mine, who happens to be a long distance runner, sent me this awesome article a few days ago.
The subject of the piece is Christopher Smith, a speed demon golfer from Oregon. Mr Smith actually holds the World Speed-Golf record for a 44:06, six-under-par 65 he shot three years ago.
Speed-Golf, also know as Extreme Golf or, more descriptively, Hit and Run, is an actual sport, with its own rules and scoring. And, for obvious reasons it's quite perfectly suited to the winter season. Empty courses and temps that don't inspire idling are two conditions that seem to set the stage for speed, and an added benefit is that many golfers will actually find themselves scoring better when deliberation is not an option. This doesn't surprise me at all; my practice shots are always perfect and my real shots rarely so. Overthinking almost always results in failure and the disappointment is, of course, acute.
So, why not check out the rules of Speedgolf, grab a few of your favorite clubs, and hit hit the course running. It's the probably perfect time to work on your fast game.
OK, gotta run.
This is great. I think I might try it both to keep warm and see if it helps my score when I'm NOT thinking. I don't even know how to NOT think!
ReplyDeleteYears ago, Greg Norman and Mark O'Meara were the first pairing out one Sunday morning and were out of the running for the prize. So they decided to try and set the record for the fastest round of golf ever played on the PGA Tour. They finished in 84 minutes.
John Daly and Marc Calcavecchia tried the same thing years later and were fined for unbecoming conduct of a PGA tour member. They finished in about 2 hours.
What fun it would have been to see either one of these match-ups!
That would be awesome. I get the impression someone always has an eye on JD for conduct unbecoming. d:o0
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea to wipe out the conscious mind so you can't overthink your shots. I have been guilty of overthinking during my last 3 rounds *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIf you can convert the course where I play to speed golf, I'll take it up year-round. Thing is, I don't think the golf carts can get around the course in 4 hours at top speed. At least, the many members who typically ride carts can't get them to move any faster.
ReplyDeleteWhen I walk 18 by myself (without getting stuck behind other players), I typically take 2hrs 10mins to finish a round. That's plenty fast in any weather... and I'll play when it's 24F degrees.
The 2nd worst golf experience of all? Walking behind a group in carts and waiting for them on every shot. We live in a world where 3:45 is a fast round... and you have to walk real slowly to take that long.
OK, the worst golf experience of all? Being stuck in a twosome or threesome that's holding up a foursome. If there were ever a legitimate reason to whack a playing partner with a golf club, this would be it.
Hi,
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Oh, no! I pray this won't catch on.
ReplyDeleteFor me, golf is an enjoyable pasttime. The last thing I want to do is end it quickly. What in the world could possibly be so important that one needs to get off the course in 2 hours? or even 3 hours?
That said, I do not appreciate slow play. 5 hours is too long, but 4 hours is an acceptable pace for me. At that speed I can still carry my bag for 18 holes without being out of breath. Talking with my foursome is still possible.
Teasing my buddies - getting into their head with my psychological tricks - is a huge part of the entertainment of my Saturday morning round. I'm not sure speed golf would allow me enough time to effectively freak up their minds.
According to the rules posted by the USGA, you add the total score to the amount of time played.
ReplyDeleteIf I shot a 64 and then had to a time of 90 mins to the score for a total of 154.....I think I would be depressed!