Ready to blend the challenge of golf with a heart-pumping athletic endeavor? Welcome to speed golf, a discipline that transforms the leisurely 18-hole stroll into an exhilarating race against the clock. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the basic rules and scoring to the specific strategies and mindset required to post a great time and a respectable score.
At its core, speed golf is exactly what it sounds like: playing golf as fast as you can. But it’s not just a chaotic sprint around the course. It’s an official sport with its own rules and a unique scoring system designed to balance pace of play with shot-making skill.
Your Speed Golf Score (SGS) is calculated by adding your total strokes for the round to your total time elapsed, measured in minutes and seconds.
The formula is simple: Golf Score + Time = Speed Golf Score.
For example, if you shoot a score of 90 in a time of 65 minutes and 30 seconds, your Speed Golf Score would be 155.30 (90 + 65.30). Suddenly, saving 30 seconds by finding your ball quickly is just as valuable as saving a stroke with a one-putt. This dynamic creates a fascinating strategic layer where every decision is weighed against its impact on both your score and the clock.
The biggest adjustment for any traditional golfer transitioning to speed golf isn't physical, it's mental. Conventional golf teaches us deliberation, patience, and the painstaking pursuit of the perfect shot. You assess wind, consider lie, check your yardage, and take multiple practice swings. Speed golf demands you throw most of that out the window.
Your new mantra is “good enough is great.” The goal is forward progress. You have to learn to:
This "productive" mindset doesn’t mean being reckless. It means being efficient and valuing forward momentum above all else.
Carrying a fully-loaded, 14-club tour bag is simply not an option. Your setup needs to be streamlined for mobility and efficiency. Less is more.
A lightweight "Sunday bag" or "carry bag" is your best friend. Look for one that's ultra-light, has comfortable dual straps for a backpack-style carry, and holds just a few clubs. You’ll be running with this, so every ounce matters.
You can’t carry 14 clubs. Most speed golfers use between 4 and 7 clubs. The key is to select versatile clubs that can cover multiple distances and shots. Here’s a sample setup:
When selecting your clubs, think about versatility. Can you hit your 7-iron 150 yards, 130 yards, and 110 yards by adjusting your swing? That’s more valuable than carrying three separate clubs for those distances.
Ditch the traditional golf spikes. You need running shoes - plain and simple. Choose a pair with good support and decent traction. Your apparel should be comfortable, athletic clothing that you'd wear for a run. Breathable materials are a must.
A good Speed Golf Score is built on smart decisions made before and during the run. Your strategy should revolve around minimizing time lost to bad shots and inefficient movement.
Just like a caddie helps a pro navigate the course, you need to be your own strategist.
Your pre-shot routine is effectively just a "shot routine," as it should happen in seconds.The entire sequence looks like this:
The greens are where chunk of time can be saved.
You might be tempted to sprint out of the gate, but 18 holes is a long way to run - typically 4 to 5 miles. Find a comfortable jogging pace you can maintain. The fastest speed golfers use a tactic called "shuttle runs." You hit your shot, sprint to your ball, take your next shot, and then slow to a walk for a few breaths to recover while the ball is inaction.
The pace is often a rhythmic jog on the fairways and a slightly faster clip on the cart paths between holes. Remember to breathe and stay hydrated if you can carry a small water bottle. This is a very physical activity, and you need to manage your energy to be effective on the last few holes.
Speed golf is an incredibly rewarding and fun way to experience the game. It strips away the unnecessary delays and connects you to the course in a raw, athletic way by asking you to balance your golf skill with your physical fitness and course management under pressure.
Part of getting faster on the course is making quick, yet informed, decisions. But when you’re out of breath and staring at a peculiar lie, feeling confident in your choice can be tough. That’s why we’re building tools to give you that instant, expert second opinion. With an app like Caddie AI, you can snap a photo of a challenging situation, and we’ll give you a simple, strategic play in seconds - perfect for when the clock is ticking and you have to make the right call.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
