Golf
The Fastest Round of Golf Ever Played
Golf is typically known for being a game that takes ages to complete. Players take their time, assessing each shot, checking the wind, and studying the greens. It has long been a game of patience and calm but there’s a new version of the sport coming into popularity these days. Speed Golf! Like the name suggests, players race to finish as quickly as possible. Turning the game into a fast, intense challenge that tests their strength, accuracy, and speed. Whether it’s one person breaking a solo record or a team working together perfectly, the push for the fastest round ever has created amazing achievements that make people think differently about the sport.
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What is Speed Golf?
Speed Golf, also known as fitness golf, changes the game by mixing regular scoring with a race against the clock. Your final score adds up your strokes and the time it takes to finish the round, making it a blend of skill and fitness.
This approach to speed Golf shifts the focus from taking your time to acting fast. Challenging players to balance good shots with speed.
Also, in speed golf, players don’t carry a lot of gear. Just a few clubs are needed, like a putter, wedge, and long iron or hybrid, to keep things light and move quickly.
Instead of walking, speed Golfers run between shots, pushing their bodies hard as they hurry to the next tee or green. Unlike regular golf, where players can study wind, ground, and pin positions, speed golfers have to trust their gut and act right away, knowing every second counts and a wrong move could cost time or strokes.
Why Speed Golf Matters
Some golfers love the slow, thoughtful pace of a traditional round, seeing it as a peaceful trip through nature and strategy. But speed golf offers something different, adding excitement and physical effort to a game that’s often seen as relaxed.
Speed golf requires players to be efficient and accurate with fewer clubs, showing that golf isn’t just about perfect swings.
Being able to hit good shots even when you’re tired from running makes it a unique test of your skills as a Golfer.
Also, people sometimes think golf isn’t very athletic because it’s slow, but speed golf proves otherwise. It demands stamina to keep running, agility to move fast, and mental strength to stay sharp under pressure.
Players have to train their bodies as well as their swings, turning golf into a mix of sport and fitness.
Here are some of the fastest rounds of Golf on record
James Carvill’s Guinness World Record
The fastest solo round of golf on record was set by James Carvill. On June 18, 1987, at Warrenpoint Golf Course in Northern Ireland, he finished an 18-hole course that was 6,154 yards long in just 27 minutes and 9 seconds.
This is the official Guinness World Record for the fastest individual round where the ball has to stop after each shot, which is different from formats where players keep moving without pausing.
Carvill’s record still holds today, nearly 40 years later!
Fastest Team Round: Zwartkop Country Club’s Record
On July 31, 2022, players from Zwartkop Country Club in South Africa set a record by finishing 18 holes in only 11 minutes and 55.32 seconds.
This earned them the Guinness World Record for the fastest team round. Each person had a job, like hitting from the tee, getting close to the green, or putting, and they had to make quick decisions and play perfectly under pressure.
Team speed golf isn’t just about running fast, it’s also about organizing.
The players had to talk fast, often using hand signals or short yells, to predict what others would do and adjust plans instantly.
Speed Records in Professional Golf
Even professional golfers who are used to taking four hours or more for 18 holes have tried to play faster. These efforts aren’t always official records, but they show how top players can speed up while still being skilled.
Wesley Bryan’s PGA Tour Record
In the final round of the 2017 BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Illinois, Wesley Bryan surprised everyone by finishing 18 holes in just 1 hour and 29 minutes. He even scored a 2-under-par 69, which is great for any round, let alone one so fast.
Unlike speed golfers who run and carry few clubs, Bryan followed PGA Tour rules, he used a caddie and stuck to the usual tournament format.
His time wasn’t an official speed record, but it became an unofficial mark on the tour, proving that speed and accuracy can work together at the highest level.
Joaquin Niemann’s TOUR Championship Sprint
At the 2021 TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Joaquin Niemann tried to beat Kevin Na’s earlier record of 1 hour and 59 minutes for the fastest round in that event.
He did it, finishing in 1 hour and 53 minutes. His performance was all about efficiency and staying calm, even in a major tournament with lots of eyes on him.
Like Bryan, Niemann played within the rules, not breaking away from standard golf but making it faster.
Conclusion
Trying to play the fastest round of golf ever is more than just a race. It’s a way to show how flexible and exciting golf can be.
From James Carvill’s amazing 27-minute run at Warrenpoint to Wesley Bryan and Joaquin Niemann’s fast pro rounds, speed golf pushes players to see what they can do.
Every record and performance add to the story of a sport that keeps growing, mixing new ideas with its old traditions.
With a decade of sports writing expertise, Nigel Naicker has crafted compelling content across football leagues like the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as cricket and UFC. A passionate storyteller since 2014, Nigel joins the SportsBoom team, ready to deliver insightful narratives across various sports disciplines.