SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (InvestigateTV) — A faster, fitness-driven version of golf is gaining attention as players look for ways to complete 18 holes in about an hour instead of four to five hours.
Speedgolf combines running with golf, requiring players to carry a limited number of clubs while moving quickly between shots. The sport has been around since the late 1970s and uses a unique scoring system that adds playing time to golf strokes.
“Instead of four to five hours, you’re looking at 40 minutes to 60 minutes,” Garrett Holt, a golf pro at Horton Smith Golf Course in Springfield, said.
How speedgolf scoring works
Players add their completion time in minutes to their golf score.
“You add your time, so let’s say it took you 50 minutes, to your score, 80, and then you got a 130 total score,” Holt said.
The sport eliminates golf carts, pull carts and extended breaks. Players typically carry four to five clubs instead of a full set.
“Driver, six iron, nine iron, sand wedge and putter, and that tends to cover everything,” Holt said.
Players find fitness benefits
Holt started playing speedgolf in 2015 while looking for alternative ways to attract people to golf.
“I love it because I’ve got a young family at home, and I don’t have a lot of time for four- or five-hour rounds,” he said.
Nic Goodin, who used to work at Horton Smith, initially dismissed the concept but later embraced it as a fitness activity.
“I ate for two during my wife’s pregnancy, and so it was time to get in shape. And sure enough, I played three holes out here with a couple of clubs and was exhausted and had a blast,” Goodin said.
Tim Shryack has played speedgolf for more than two decades and appreciates the health benefits.
“It’s good to just get out, breathe some fresh air. You’re not sprinting, I mean, sometimes you do. You get the momentum and you go on a par three, you know? And if you can knock the par three off in a minute, you’ve saved time,” Shryack said.
International competition
In November 2024, the three Missouri golfers represented the United States at the World Speedgolf Championships in Japan. Goodin and Holt placed 11th as a team.
Golf professionals recommend contacting local courses to inquire about speedgolf availability or groups in the area rather than showing up unannounced.
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