7 Reasons why you should play speedgolf

You’re probably wondering what is speedgolf and why it is worth playing. I admit, I was skeptical at first especially since I’m a professional golfer who grew up playing “regular” golf. I didn’t understand how people found enjoyment in running while playing golf.

After playing speedgolf for the first time in December of 2018, I was hooked! I’ve been competing in the Japan Speedgolf Open every year since and plan on playing in more events around the world in the near future. I’m currently ranked sixth in the world for speedgolf and my goal is to get to number one! These are my reasons for why I’ve become a fan of speedgolf.

What is speedgolf?

To put it simply, speedgolf is a faster version of regular golf. It’s like pressing the fast-forward button on the remote control during a round of golf on tv haha. Rather than just calculating the number of strokes per hole like in golf, in speedgolf, both time and score is calculated. One stroke is equivalent to one minute.

For example, let’s say a person shot a score of 80 in 60 minutes. That person’s speedgolf score, or SG score, will be 140 (80+60). In speedgolf tournaments, players normally have a scorer following them in golf carts to help keep score since it can be overwhelming to keep track of what we shot.

Some other facts

• There is a seven-club limit when competing in speedgolf events. You can choose which clubs to carry (I change it up depending on the course, but I normally take out the driver since I can hit the 3 wood on multiple shots, not just the tee shot).
• Golf bag is not necessary. I find that I like carrying the small golf bag (like in the picture above). Golf bags are not allowed on the greens though, so leaving the bag by the side of the green on each hole does eat up time. Over the years, speedgolfers have been really creative with how they carry their clubs in order to save time.
• If you hit out-of-bounds, you can use the stroke-and-distance rule of dropping the ball where the previous ball last crossed by the nearest fairway edge, no closer to the hole.
• Golf clothes are not mandatory. I always like to wear breathable and stretchy golf clothes (I learned my lesson after wearing a cotton skort at my first speedgolf event haha). I also recommend comfortable running shoes or spikeless golf shoes.
• Use a GPS measuring device. Rangefinders take too much time to take out and check the yardage. A lot of speedgolfers use a GPS measuring device in a form of a watch, hat clip, or even a keychain that you can clip onto your belt loop so that you can get the yardage fast.

Now for the anticipated list.

Reasons why you should play speedgolf

1. Fast-paced

An average golf round takes 4-6 hours. A speedgolf round takes 45-90 minutes. Let that sink in for a moment.

If you’re someone who likes to get a lot done during the day, think about how much time you can save. The best part is, no waiting for the group in front! You go at your own pace and when you want to pass another speedgolfer in front of you, all you have to do is yell, “fore” so that person is aware and then just keep on going.

2. Anyone can play

When I went to my first speedgolf event, I thought there were going to be a lot of pro golfers playing. I was wrong!

Instead, there were runners, triathletes, those who wanted to give it a go for exercise, and then golfers. I also realized shortly afterwards that being good at golf doesn’t mean much in speedgolf. Golf is only half the battle. I kept getting whooped by average golfers older than me because they were fast and efficient during speedgolf. That’s one thing I’m still not very good at. There’s a lot of strategy involved in speedgolf and I think that’s what makes it so fun.

3. Affordable

You really don’t need much to play speedgolf. Just comfortable clothes you can run in, seven clubs or less, handful of golf balls and tees, and you’re pretty much set. Several courses allow speedgolf at a discounted rate from regular golf.

You may have to tee off bright and early or late in the evening, but at least you’ll be done in an hour.

4. Different form of exercise

Running in 50-degree weather is better than walking when you’re cold, right? It’s the same with speedgolf. A lot of speedgolfers claim that they get “runner’s high” during their round and I can definitely attest to that. I remember getting a sudden boost of happiness at some point on the back nine and was really enjoying being in that present moment. It’s hard to get that way in regular golf.

5. Enhanced golf performance

After I became a world champion in the 2019 Wide Angle Extreme Golf World Championship, there was a period where I played some really good golf and played well in tournaments. I realized that speedgolf is great training for regular golf because it teaches you how to play with less swing thoughts.

If speedgolfers can shoot in the 70s in less than an hour with less clubs, shouldn’t we be able to do the same in golf? Sure, the tees are different but I think the biggest difference is that in golf, we have so much time to overthink. I’m always amazed how I’m able to chip close and make long putts with just one quick glance. My golf always seems to improve after playing speedgolf.

6. Tight-knit community

I’m still new to speedgolf and yet, I’ve never felt so welcomed like the speedgolf community has been to me. I have speedgolfing friends from all over the world, and some I haven’t even met in person. It’s like one big family and they come together to help each other out. I am truly grateful to be a part of such a great community.

7. Potential to grow

Despite the fact that speedgolf has been around for several years, it’s still a pretty unknown sport. There are speedgolf organizations around the world though with many passionate people in the industry, and that’s why I believe that now is the perfect time to get started, to be a part of the growth.

You never know, speedgolf may one day be an Olympic sport and we all have a chance at making history if we work hard now.

Those are my seven reasons as to why I decided to get into speedgolf. I personally need to start training more though. Several people have told me that I needed to work on my running, but it has gotten better! I can’t wait to share with you more about this great, fast-paced sport.

So what do you think, will you give speedgolf a try? Let me know in the comments below.