Have You Heard of “Speed Golf”? A Tournament Participation Report!
Nice to meet you! I am Koshino from the Movement Party Strategic Headquarters*.
Today, I am posting on behalf of the SUNNY SIDE UP Golf Club. ^^
*Movement Party Strategic Headquarters: A department established in 2013 to handle new business development and other initiatives.
Does everyone know about the sport called “Speed Golf”?
It is a sport that combines marathons and golf, where you compete based on the total score of your golf strokes and your time (1 minute equals 1 point). It is a truly unique sport! (laughs)
Hideki Matsuyama also played it on the TV program “Taka and Toshi’s Sports King Is Me!!” broadcast in August, but I think watching this video is the quickest way to understand it.
By the way, the person in this video is the world record holder for Speed Golf with a score of “65 strokes + 44 minutes.”
Speed Golf actually has a surprisingly long history, said to have started in California in 1979. The Speed Golf Association was later established in 1990, and in Japan, Golf Digest Online Inc. launched the Japan Speed Golf Association in December 2013.
We caught word that the “2nd Japan Speed Golf Championship” would be held to determine the Japanese representative. As the SUNNY SIDE UP Golf Club, whose motto is “Let’s Have Fun!”, we simply had to participate.
Therefore, two of us went to participate!
With 42 participants and the winner earning a spot in the world championships held in the United States next month, we took the challenge seriously and aimed to secure a qualifying spot!
Thinking “We might even win!”, we took commemorative photos with plenty of confidence…
Enjoying some lighthearted talk with the facilitator before the start… 
Participants start one by one at 5-minute intervals. The countdown begins… 
And then, the shot! (The photo shows our Golf Club Captain) 
Immediately after hitting, grab the golf clubs and… 
Run at full speed! 
And then hit again! 
Man, it’s tough! It’s much tougher than I imagined! Running 18 holes covers about 7 km.
You are allowed to carry up to 7 clubs, but I opted for 4 (3UT, 7I, SW, PT) to prioritize lightness. Even so, they were heavy! My result was 70 minutes + 106 strokes for a total of 176 points, landing me in a mediocre 27th place.
By the way, the winner finished with 51 minutes + 79 strokes for 130 points—I wasn’t even in the same league. I heard he is a professional golfer whose hobby is triathlons.
How could I possibly win?!
That being said, it was so much fun that I have already decided to participate next time.
Alright, let me summarize the points for improvement for the 3rd championship for my own sake.
• It is easier to reduce your score by one stroke than to shave one minute off your time!
• Do not rush your shots, and stay focused on your putts!
• As expected, a driver is necessary!
• Do not run at 100% full speed (laughs).
That concludes the report from the Golf Club on this slightly crazy tournament. ^^
