Speedgolf - swing and sprint
Words Luke Williamson
Craig is passionate about this new form of the game and lists a variety of reasons you might want to run around the golf course. “If you like golf, but your time is short, speedgolf is perfect. Instead of taking four and a half hours, you can do 18 holes in under an hour. Or 9 holes in 30 to 40 minutes! It’s obviously great for your fitness, and when you’re running on the golf course, you’re thinking about golf, not running. If you play 18 holes, that’s a seven-kilometre run. Getting out there and getting fit is also great for your mental health.” Amazingly, Craig says it has also improved his golf technique. “I’ve discovered you really don’t need three practice swings,” he laughs.
There are some rules specific to speedgolf. Your final score is a combination of the number of shots taken, added to your elapsed running time. For example, if you shoot an 80 and it takes you 60 minutes to run the course, your total is 140. You are only allowed a maximum of seven clubs, but Craig says most people use between three and five, although some people use just one. “There’s a lot of strategy involved,” says Craig. “Each extra club adds about two minutes of running time to your total for 18 holes. You also don’t want to be shooting long over the greens because it means more running. Better to go a bit short and stay in the centre. Bunkers, water hazards and going into the rough all add a lot of time.”
In order not to disrupt traditional golfers too much, speedgolfers tend to play early or late. Craig is part of a group in Whangarei that starts between 6.30-7am. “We call it 18 before 8. We play 18 holes, have a shower at the club, take a quick bit of time to socialise and then we still get to work by 8.30am!”
He is also involved with another group that plays twilight speedgolf at 7pm at Waipū. The Waipu Golf Club is hosting the North Island champs on the weekend of 23-24 March, and Craig will be there organising and competing. “It’s not like traditional golf where you need to be quiet and walk everywhere. There’s music playing, we have an emcee starting people off, golfers are racing to and fro, and people are enjoying drinks and food. It’s a family environment as well so kids can come up and watch Dad or Mum run around the golf course, and it’s over and done with quickly.”
Craig is excited about hosting the event at Waipū because
14 of the 18 holes can be seen from the clubhouse, making it easy for spectators to enjoy the event. He’s expecting about 40 competitors and anywhere up to 100 spectators, so it should be a fun and action-packed weekend. “There’s a good crew coming from Taranaki, including the current speedgolf world champion, Jamie Reid,” says Craig.
Not all clubs host speedgolfers but Junction readers are invited to come and try it out at Waipu, every Tuesday from 7pm. Everyone is welcome, you don’t need to be a golfer or have an existing membership, just pay a green fee on the day. Further details can be found on the Facebook page.