Speedgolf is a fun, fast, and fitness-based alternative to traditional golf that involves playing a round of golf in the shortest time and fewest possible number of shots. Speedgolf can be played in a range of formats to suits golfers and runners of all abilities.
The sport began in the 1970s in California and is now enjoyed around the world.
Speedgolf Australia was founded in 2013 and provides education and support to players and golf clubs around the country. Speedgolf Australia also hosts the annual Australian Speedgolf Open in conjunction with Golf Australia.
Speedgolf Australia’s mission is to work with players, golf clubs and supporting partners to offer an alternative form of the traditional game that addresses many of the well-documented causative factors of stagnating golf participation – duration, pace of play, expense and level of difficulty.
Speedgolf Australia is a founding member of the International Speedgolf Alliance (ISGA) along with Speedgolf USA, British Speedgolf, Speedgolf Japan and New Zealand Speedgolf.
The ISGA was formed in January 2018 and is the global governing body for speedgolf. The ISGA sets and moderates the global rules for speedgolf and is the custodian of the Speedgolf World Championships and the Speedgolf World Teams Cup. ISGA member organisations work collaboratively to identify ways to grow participation at grassroots level.
The ISGA supports and sanctions other major speedgolf events, including the Australian Speedgolf Open. All ISGA sanctioned events count towards the global player ranking system known as the Speedgolf World Power Rankings.
The current world record was established at the Australian Speedgolf Open held at Yarra Bend Golf, Melbourne, in August 2015. Mitch Williamson, a scratch golfer and past Australian representative runner from Orange, NSW, shot 77 in 31mins and 54 secs (108:54) to edge out the previous record (which remains a Guinness World Record) by Christopher Smith from the USA, who shot a five-under-par 65 in 44 minutes and 6 seconds for a speedgolf score of 109:06.
2018 Australian Speedgolf Open Champions:
- Men’s division: Lee McCullagh (Victoria, Australia)
- Women’s division: Elizabeth McKinnon (New Zealand)
Speedgolf is recognised as an official golf sport in Australia by Golf Australia.
Speedgolf Australia welcomes Golf Australia and Vision Golf Balls as supporting partners.
For more information visit: www.speedgolfaustralia.com.au and the global site www.playspeedgolf.com.