Scottsdale, AZ (November 14, 2011) – Jim Colton has received the “2011 Walking Golfer of the Year” award for his passionate commitment to the walking game of golf. Members of The Walking Golfers Society chose Jim Colton unanimously after he walked 155 holes at Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club on June 22^nd in order to raise over $110,000 for injured caddie Ben Cox and his family.

“Jim Colton is an inspiration to us all. He turned his passion for walking Ballyneal into a mission to help a caddie who was seriously injured in a ski accident. Walking 155 holes in a single day is an incredible accomplishment that Jim hopes to surpass in 2012,” said Rob Rigg, founder of The Walking Golfers Society. “We are honored that Jim has accepted the award for the 2011 Walking Golfer of the Year and look forward to assisting Jim in promoting his future charitable endeavors that will be tied to walking when you golf.”

“I’m just a guy who really loves the game of golf and discovered a way to use that passion to impact one family’s life for the better,” said Colton after receiving the award. “That, in and of itself, has been prize enough. To win the 2011 Walking Golfer of the Year is the icing on the cake to an unforgettable year. Thank you to The Walking Golfers Society for this tremendous honor.”

Jim Colton received The 2011 Walking Golfer of the Year Award from Rob Rigg and Todd Rohrer on behalf of The Walking Golfers Society

In 2012, Mr. Colton, who resides in Chicago, IL and is the author of the popular golf blog, wegoblogger31.com, plans to launch a charitable organization called “One Divot” that aims to “help change the world for the better one divot at a time.” The cornerstone event for the new charity will be the Hundred Hole Hike, in which golfers around the world will aim to play at least 100 holes on the same day to raise money for local charities.

Mr. Colton is the first individual to win “The Walking Golfer of the Year.” In 2009, the award was presented to Mike Keiser on behalf of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and in 2010 the award went to The Evans Scholars Foundation sponsored by the Western Golf Association.

Jim reached the Pacific Ocean and realized there was nowhere else he could carry his bag in 2011

A leather plaque, created by Oregon craftsman Larry Eisenbach of Raygun Digital Artistry, and a MacKenzie Walker leather golf bag, crafted by The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company, were presented to Jim Colton at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort of October 30th. Rigg, who also is president of TRUE linkswear, and Todd Rohrer, president of The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company, represented The Walking Golfers Society and presented the awards to Colton.

The Walking Golfers Society was founded in early 2009, along with TheWalkingGolfer.com, to promote the many benefits of walking when you golf. The Society has over 750 members across the U.S. and around the world. There is no membership fee to join The Walking Golfers Society, just a passion for enjoying golf as a walking game. For more information, please visit www.thewalkinggolfer.com.

TRUE linkswear is an innovative golf footwear company that recently introduced a “barefoot” golf shoe that is comfortable, lightweight and worn on the PGA Tour by Ryan Moore. More information can be found at www.truelinkswear.com.

The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company was founded in 1985. Its leather golf bags are carried by thousands of passionate walking golfers around the world and each one is constructed by hand at a shop in Portland, Ore. More information can be found at www.themackenziegolfbagcompany.com.

Contacts:
Rob Rigg
The Walking Golfers Society, TRUE linkswear
rob.rigg@thewalkinggolfer.com

Todd Rohrer
MacKenzie Golf Bags
todd@themackenziegolfbagcompany.com

As you may remember, The Walking Golfer posted a course review of Ballyneal last July that can be found here. In my opinion, it is the top modern private that I have played and provides opportunities for creative golf that may only be rivaled by Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes.

We had a good group from the Society attend the event and cannot thank Matt Payne (Head Pro), Rupert O’Neal (owner) and the staff at Ballyneal for ensuring that we had a fantastic time in the Chop Hills of Northeastern Colorado.

Enjoy the pics! Sorry we didn’t get snaps of everyone at the event – we were too busy playing the course, over and over again.

A short drive along a dirt road, then you see the sign and know golf nirvana is just over the hill.

Caddies are an important part of the Ballyneal experience

Derek Franks, Rob Rigg and Keith Olbrantz

Rob Rigg, Ron Farmer, Stan Nowski and Norm Rigg

The Par 4 2nd played Driver/9 iron down wind on Monday and Driver/Hybrid into the wind on Tuesday

The short one shot 3rd is no easy par.

Tee shot on the par 5 4th

Looking back from the 4th green across the Chop Hills

Two eagle putts on the 8th hole - one went in . . .

TWGS members and caddies marching down the 10th fairway

Dale Zlock pin hunting on the one shot 11th

James Weisinger on the epic 13th

Norm Rigg teeing it on 18

PORTLAND, Ore. (January 18, 2011) – The Evans Scholars Foundation, sponsored by the Western Golf Association, has received the “2010 Walking Golfer of the Year” award for its passionate commitment to the walking game of golf. Members of The Walking Golfers Society chose The Evans Scholars from a list of worthy candidates.

“The Evans Scholars Foundation exemplifies the positive impact that the great walking game of golf can have on society by providing full four-year scholarships to young motivated high school senior caddies with stellar academic records who would not be able to attend college without financial support,” said Rob Rigg, founder of The Walking Golfers Society. “We are honored that they have accepted the award for the 2010 Walking Golfer of the Year and thank them for encouraging our next generation of leaders to embrace golf as a walking game.”

The Western Golf Association was formed in 1899 to promote golf in what then was considered the western region of the United States. In 1929, famed golfer Chick Evans Jr., asked the WGA to administer the fund he had established some years earlier to send deserving caddies to college. He could think of no finer organization to entrust his legacy and grow his vision. In 1930, the WGA awarded its first two scholarships to caddies Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis. The WGA currently awards more than 200 full tuition and housing awards annually, with 850 Evans Scholars enrolled at 18 universities. An estimated 100,000 golfers contribute each year in Chick’s honor to the Evans Scholars Program to help the WGA meet annual tuition and housing costs that exceed $11 million.

“We truly appreciate receiving this honor from The Walking Golfers Society,” said WGA President & CEO John Kaczkowski. “We believe golf is best enjoyed as a walking game. Supporting our mission to help send young caddies to college is one way the greater golf community helps to preserve the tradition and value of walking.”

(L to R) Todd Rohrer - MacKenzie Golf Bags, Jeff Harrison - WGA/Evans Scholars, John Kaczkowski - WGA/Evans Scholars, Rob Rigg - The Walking Golfers Society/TRUE linkswear

A leather plaque, created by Oregon craftsman Larry Eisenbach of Ray-Gun Imagery, and a MacKenzie Walker leather golf bag, crafted by The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company, were presented to the WGA during an Evans Scholars Selection Committee meeting at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., on Jan. 15. Rigg, who also is president of TRUE linkswear, and Todd Rohrer, president of The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company, represented The Walking Golfers Society and presented the awards. Jeff Harrison, Vice President of Education for the WGA and Evans Scholars Foundation, joined Kaczkowski in accepting on behalf of their members.

The Award and Golf Bag are proudly displayed in the lobby of WGA headquarters

The Walking Golfers Society was founded in early 2009, along with TheWalkingGolfer.com, to promote the many benefits of walking when you golf. The Society has over 500 hundred members across the U.S. and around the world. There is no membership fee to join The Walking Golfers Society, just a passion for enjoying golf as a walking game. For more information, please visit www.thewalkinggolfer.com.

TRUE linkswear is an innovative golf footwear company that recently introduced a “barefoot” golf shoe that is comfortable, lightweight and worn on the PGA Tour by Ryan Moore. More information can be found at www.truelinkswear.com .

The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company was founded in 1985. Its leather golf bags are carried by thousands of passionate walking golfers around the world and each one is constructed by hand at a shop in Portland, Ore. More information can be found at www.themackenziegolfbagcompany.com.

Contacts:
Rob Rigg
The Walking Golfers Society, TRUE linkswear
rob.rigg@thewalkinggolfer.com

Todd Rohrer
MacKenzie Golf Bags
todd@themackenziegolfbagcompany.com

When we travel to play golf, we play golf. On this trip it amounted to 15 rounds in 8 days – epic! We started the journey by driving from Heathrow Airport to play Southerndown, then Tenby, Pennard, Machynys Peninsula, Royal Porthcawl, Porthmadog, Nefyn, Pwllheli, Royal St. David’s, Aberdovey, Royal Lytham and St.Annes, Royal Liverpool, North Wales, Conwy and The Grove before heading back to Heathrow and home.

I walk the course most every time I play golf unless it is not permitted.

On this trip I wore a pedometer each day while we were golfing in order to track how much walking the trip would entail. We figured that each step is about a yard, so the total for the trip was just shy of 125 miles! Now if we had hit the ball a bit straighter the distance could have been less.

Wales has some wonderful courses, so I will highlight a few and include some pictures.

Southerndown -

While not a true links course, Southerndown is a challenging, fun golf course up and down hills with links style hazards including gorse and even sheep! Overall Southerndown is a very good test of your game.

Here is the approach to the second hole.

Approach to the 2nd at Southerndown

Spectators at Southerndown.

Spectators on the course at Southerndown

We traveled to Tenby the following day.

This is a picture of the par four 3rd hole.

Approach shot at Tenby

The downhill Par 3 17^th at Tenby.

17th at Tenby

The afternoon took us to Pennard, “The Links in the Sky”. Pennard is an incredible golf course that inspires you to play it over and over again. After a short introduction from Mike the Pro we were off to take on the tumbling fairways and interesting green complexes.

The challenging 7^th green at Pennard.

7th Green at Pennard

A walk down a fairway at Pennard.

An inspiring walk down the fairway at Pennard

The next day we started at Machynys Peninsula, a Jack Nicklaus design, which is a likable course but we both decided it was similar to any resort golf course you could play in the U.S.

Next stop on the agenda – Royal Porthcawl.

Royal Porthcawl is a true links course and should not to be missed on a trip to Wales. The course has some very tough par threes, firm ground and windy conditions which made it one of the most memorable rounds of the trip.

Second shot on an uphill par five.

The magical links at Royal Porthcawl

One of the well guarded one shotters.

A well guarded green at Royal Porthcawl

The next day we arrived at Porthmadog before the course opened, but were allowed to play at the blessing of the green keeper. Porthmadog has rather bland opening holes followed by a stretch of fun holes in the dunes which lead to several mediocre parkland holes to finish.

The sporty 12^th hole at Porthmadog, par 4 –358 yards.

The 12th at Porthmadog

From Porthmadog we traveled to Nefyn and District Golf Club which is a course that gets mixed reviews. While not the strongest test of golf the views are spectacular. Here are a couple sample holes.

Tee shot from the second hole at Nefyn.

Tee shot on #2 at Nefyn

Tee shot on the 13^th hole at Nefyn.

Tee shot on #13 at Nefyn

The 13^th green at Nefyn.

13th Green at Nefyn

From Nefyn we decided we had not played enough so we headed to Pwllheli Golf Club for a third round of the day. The course is another mix of parkland holes at the start and finish and fun true links golf in the middle.

Next up after a good nights sleep is Royal St. David’s or Harlech.

This is another very good course with holes that meander through heath and dunes. Unfortunately there are not more holes in the spectacular dunes that border the golf course.

The inspiring landscape at Royal St. David's

A trip down the road a ways brings us to Aberdovey a links course that plays true to the style with wind, rain and firm conditions.

Chipping up to the par three 12^th at Aberdovey.

Chipping on the 12th at Aberdovey

Since we were “in the area” we had to check out two of the Open Championship courses in Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham and St. Annes. These were two highlights of the trip. Lytham will be hosting the Open Championship in 2012 and I look forward to watching the tournament. The course is very difficult, well bunkered and makes you think on every shot.

Blasting out of a fairway bunker at Lytham.

Blasting out at Royal Lytham and St. Anne's

A par 3 at Lytham.

One shotter at Lytham

Coming home on the 18^th at Lytham with the clubhouse as the backdrop.

The home hole at Lytham

The first hole and historic clubhouse at Royal Liverpool.

Clubhouse at Hoylake

The second green and a sample of the green complexes that await the golfer at Royal Liverpool.

Second Green at Hoylake

We returned to Wales to play North Wales Golf Club and Conwy. Conwy serves as an Open qualifier course. Then it was off to London with tired feet for one last round before heading home. We decided to play The Grove, a resort course outside London that hosted the 2006 American Express Championship won by Tiger Woods at –26. Though we prefer the links courses this is a superb layout and in perfect condition.

Looking back from greenside on the 5^th hole at The Grove.

5th at The Grove

The green on the 13^th at The Grove.

13th at The Grove

We walked 214,397 steps through 15 courses in Wales and England and not a golf cart in sight. Golf as it was meant to be.

Tom Bielanski – A walking golfer.

Ironically, I had been talking about this concept with Mike Keiser at the start of June at the Old Macdonald opening. He thought it would be really neat if a group of people played 18 on each course at the resort in a single day. My response – “Absolutely, where do I sign up?”

It is great to learn that some walking golfers are playing 72 a day already!

Here is the email from Jeremy Deason:

Hi Rob,

I found your blog recently and follow you on twitter. I wanted to let you
know about something my buddies and I have been doing for the past four
years, Solstice Golf. We are lucky to live near a great course
(Southampton Country Club in Southampton, MA) where during the week you
can pay $19 to walk as long as you want. We routinely walk 27 or 36
throughout the summer, as all of us are educators and have some free time.

The idea for Solstice Golf started four years ago with just me and my
friend Kevin, and we played 54 holes. Over the next two years, it grew to
include some other guys and we bumped up to 63 holes. The goal has always
been 72, but the course sends leagues off the front and back at 3:30 and
4:00, so timing is tricky. This year, we had seven guys teeing off at 4:45
AM and we plowed ahead.

Kevin teeing it on the 1st hole at 4:45am.

We lucked out with the leagues (and the weather) and
also played the last 27 in alternate shot format to pick it up a bit.
Three of us finished the day with 72 holes at 8:02 PM. We were kicking
ourselves for not wearing a pedometer, but I figured, conservatively, that
we walked at least 20-25 miles. Needless to say a couple of beers and
Advils later, we were all sound asleep. Kevin even had to get up to play a
tournament at 7:00 AM the next day (although he used a cart).

Keep up the great work, I love the blog!

Jeremy Deason

The real question is - Why do you need 14 clubs?

Just because that is the maximum allowed by the USGA does not mean a golfer needs 14 of them to play to their potential.

I carry between 8 and 12 clubs when I play and I know it makes me a better golfer because my handicap dropped by 10 strokes during 2010 while doing so.

If you want to carry, but need to shed some weight, dropping a few clubs from your bag is the best way to reduce stress on your body. On average, every club you carry weighs at least one pound, so you can drop about 6 lbs from your bag by using a half set.

If you cannot play without 14 clubs, then consider using a push cart which is easier on your body than carrying and much healthier for you than riding in a cart.

These are the clubs that live in my MacKenzie Walker or TRUE linkswear Stand Bag:

Driver

TaylorMade Burner – 9.5* – ProLaunch Red X Shaft

The driver is the longest and most difficult club to hit in your bag,  so it is important to get fit by a professional to ensure that you are playing with the “right” one.

During the fitting process, your launch angle, spin rate, shaft flex, etc. will be optimized by trying out various head and shaft combinations. You will also get a feel for the club’s balance and the sound at impact which is important.

If you are between flexes, then I would encourage you to err towards a stiffer shaft for tighter dispersion in as light a weight as feels comfortable to maximize club head speed and distance.

Also, think about playing with a shorter driver if you are directionally challenge – most Tour pros are using 44 or 44.5 inch drivers, while most amateurs have 45+ inch drivers. That does not make sense.

3 Wood

Adams 9033 HF Proto – 15* – AxivCore Tour X Green Shaft

A 3 Wood is a versatile club off the tee and from the deck, and if you find a favorite it can live in your bag forever.

Make sure the shaft is stiff enough to give you the tightest dispersion possible – accuracy is vital with fairway woods.

Irons

Titleist 681 Forged Blades with KBS X Shafts (4i to PW) and Titleist 690 CB 2i with DG X100 Sensicore Shaft (2i, 4i, 6i, 8i, PW usually in the bag)

As a walking golfer, one of the things I enjoy about a round is being immersed in the experience. The grass under my feet, the relaxing scenery of the course, the companionship of friends, and the way the golf ball comes off the club face, especially on a pure strike.

A forged blade provides the greatest amount of feedback with the least amount of forgiveness. I enjoy playing blades even if they cost me a few strokes per round.

If you are concerned primarily about scoring then a forged cavity back is probably a good option or a “player’s cast” club with limited offset and a smaller head. I am not sold on Game Improvement irons as I think the feedback is so bad that it can make it hard to improve. That being said, if you only get a chance to walk the course once a month then you may want as much help as you can get.

Wedges

Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 52*/8* and 60*/7*

Some golfers like having 3 to 4 wedges in their bag while other will go with a PW and SW. It can be hard to master too many wedges and fewer will obviously keep your bag lighter.

A confident short game will not only shave strokes off your score, it will add a lot of enjoyment to your round. Getting up and down for par on a regular basis is a great skill to have and very beneficial for your handicap and wallet.

Putter

Ping C67 Red Dot – 31 inches

The Putter is probably the most important and personal club in the bag because it is used on every hole and at least twice as often as any other.  I think a putter’s feel, both at address and at contact, is key. So if you find a head shape or design that you like, it might be a good idea to stick with it.

The 9 clubs I tend to play with are Driver, 3W, 2i, 4i, 6i, 8i, PW, 60* and Putter.

There are many golfers who have scored their best round ever using ten or fewer clubs. One of the benefits of walking is that you experience every step of the course which heightens your senses and, in my opinion, significantly improves your sense of “feel”, which can only enhance your shot-making creativity.

Try dropping a few clubs from your bag and watch your game improve over time which will only increase your enjoyment, while minimizing the weight that you carry around for eighteen holes.

Yes, Hilton Head is in many ways cart-central, and buggies are as much a part of the golf landscape as ball washers, flag-sticks, and the snack-dispensing halfway house at the turn.  But not every golf course in the area requires a mechanized vehicle to get from point to point.  Two of nearby Bluffton’s most desirable daily-fee courses, Island West and Rose Hill, are eminently walker-friendly, and should be on the “must-play” list of any visitor or vacationer who wants to play (and walk) quality golf courses at very affordable prices.

The ever-popular Fuzzy Zoeller has the same amount of official victories as a Champions Tour Player (two) as he did in Majors on the regular Tour.  (’79 Masters and ’84 U.S. Open.)  But while his victory total is sparse, his resume and reputation as a course designer continues to grow.  Case in point:  Of the nearly 20 courses designed by Zoeller, one of the most enjoyable is the underrated, affordable, yet very pleasant Island West Golf Club in Bluffton, the mainland town directly west of Hilton Head Island.  A long-time favorite of residents and Lowcountry vacationers, Island West features beautiful rolling fairways, elevated tees, carefully preserved natural marsh areas, and large live oaks.  Over the last decade-and-a-half, Bluffton has developed into a full-service golf destination in its own right.  So much so that an avid player can enjoy a “Hilton Head” golf vacation for nearly a week, and never peg a ball on the island itself, so prevalent are the quality choices available on the mainland.  Island West is one of the major reasons why.  Visit www.islandwestgolf.net to find out more.

This correspondent has been writing about golf in greater Hilton Head for more than a dozen years.  If I had a sawbuck for every time I craned my neck rightward while heading east towards the island on US 278 in Bluffton, to see what was doing at Rose Hill Golf Club while passing by, I would have accumulated enough money to pay the green fees at Harbour Town every day for a month.  But it wasn’t until last summer that I actually turned into Rose Hill itself, slipped into soft-spikes, and took the traditional four-hour tour.  It was a pleasant revelation to find this recently-reopened layout cleverly routed, challenging and serene, but still user-friendly.

When the golf club closed its doors back in 2006, my first notion was “C’est la vie,” thinking the chance to play there had been permanently squandered. Thankfully, Rose Hill reopened under new management nearly two years ago.  It’s no easy task to resurrect a long-moribund golf course, with grass growing head-high, and trees sprouting from dispossessed, hardscrabbled bunkers. But head professional Jimmy Powell, and the superintendant and his hardworking crew are doing just that.  The decision was made to close down 9 of the original 27 holes, and leave intact what management considers the best 18.  In terms of conditioning, there’s still a ways to go, but the course is definitely moving in the right direction. It is becoming an increasingly viable option in Bluffton’s rich stable of daily-fee golf courses.  Visit www.golfrosehill.com to learn more.

http://www.chapeaunoirgolf.com/chapeaunoirblog/2010/5/2/the-bag-for-the-stylish-walking-golfer.html

Lorne Rubenstein is the voice of golf in Canada and I have enjoyed reading his books and articles for a long time.

Please check out his article if you get a sec – it’s a great read.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/golf/the-clubhouse/why-dont-more-golfers-walk/article1551795/

O yeah, the link to TWG towards the bottom is really cool – Thanks Lorne!

The morning was cool and partly cloudy.  I had talked to the Pro Shop the previous day and was cleared to tee off at 6:45, the first one out.  It was an anxious moment as I headed to the first tee.  Many thoughts were running through my head – What if I can’t make 60 after telling friends and family my plans?  What if I run out of daylight?  But this was something I had planned for almost two years, and I was resolved to just do it. After a short wait for a fairway mower to clear (the first of many mowers I’d wait for that morning), and a couple of quick practice swings, I was off with a high weak drive down the right side of the fairway.

I decided to play the back tees for the first round and the regular men’s tees the rest of the way.  Besides providing a somewhat different look the next time around, it mentally and physically made things seem easier. The course is a par 70 that plays 6,736 yards from the tips and 6,211 from the men’s tees. It is not long, but not short either.

I was unaware that the greens had been aerated and sanded the day before.  Surprisingly it didn’t affect the speed, but there were some strange breaks at times, which didn’t help my putting.

Since this was the “speed round”, I took little time preparing and hitting shots and it showed.  Even though I wasn’t playing for score, I was still keeping it, just to see how many strokes I made during the day.  I started with 4 bogeys followed by a double.  But then a good short pitch set me up for a birdie on the 6th (the first of three I would have on that hole) followed by 3 more pars including one at the #1 handicap hole which is a difficult par 4 where the tee shot and second shot must carry a 40 foot ravine.

I checked my phone for the time, 7:50, an hour and 5 minutes for the first 9, which was much better than expected.  The second nine was fairly uneventful other than my only lost ball of the day, a decent tee shot on 15 into the morning sun that careened off a power line, strung across the fairway about 75 yards from the tee, to parts unknown.

Another check of the phone at the end of the 18 and it was 9AM. I played round one in 2 hours 15 minutes.  My speed round was indeed that.  I felt relieved, and invigorated at the same time.  I wanted to keep going and ride the energy from my enthusiasm.  It was time to play the extra holes I would need for 60 so I quickly went back to the 10th tee and played a six hole loop which finished on 18. I played a ridiculously fun hole during that loop, hitting my putter for the tee shot and putting with my driver.   Made a bogey there.

It was now 10am, and I had already played 24 holes.  Just 36 to go . . . just?!?!  I went back to the first tee after changing my shoes and socks, still riding a high at my progress. At 10:15 I teed off, playing with a very friendly retired high school coach.  The first 9 was solid, I was finally starting to swing well.  I think the rush and nervousness of the first 18 had my swing out of sync initially.  But on the 10^th hole I finally started to feel it.  My legs were getting rubbery and I had to throw my hips forward rather than let the legs drive through on shots.  I started playing for fades and slices.  It was time for a rest.  I did have a fun hole during that period playing the 12^th without shoes (again a bogey). Then suddenly on 17 everything came back.  I birdied it and almost birdied 18.  I was back on a high and energized.  It was now 1:20pm and I had played 42 holes.

I had been eating snacks throughout the morning, mainly fig bars and trail mix, but something more substantial was now in order.  I had a sandwich in the clubhouse, changed from long pants to shorts and put on fresh socks.  Not wanting to stiffen up and still excited about the last 2 holes, I headed to the first tee for the final round.  By now the wind was around 15 mph and it was in the high 70’s with a clear sky. This time I paired up with a businessman who had a dry sense of humor and was playing hooky for the afternoon.

The first tee shot was weak slice, which made me think I was back to needing to force the hips forward.  A pulled second, a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey.  Little did I know, that would be the last over par hole of the day.  A crisp 5 iron on the next hole to 5 feet, and I was in the zone.  Even though I missed the putt (must have been the greens, couldn’t have been my yips), I no longer worried about my game.  I hit 15 of the last 17 greens, including a par 5 in two and got up and down for pars on the other 2.  I can honestly say I have never played an easier 18 holes of golf in my life.  An even par 70, my best score on that course by 3 shots.

It was 5:25pm and I had finished 60 holes.

Ironically, I felt like there was enough gas in the tank for another 9, but that could have just been an illusion.  The businessman took the photo below when we completed our round.

Russ Seale after finishing 60 holes in one day

———————————————————————————————————–

What I found:

Play as much as you can early.  When you hit the wall (and you will at some point) stop and rest, even if it’s between 9’s.

Change you socks between each round – it is refreshing.

Drink plenty of water and eat frequently.

Hit lots of punch shots or three quarter shots.  Not only will it take less energy, but you’ll hit more solid shots with less effort.

Don’t worry about score.   The last round, normally I would have been nervous about shooting such a score, but my goal was to finish 60, so hitting good shots just meant I had to hit less of them.  I didn’t even think about score until the last couple of holes. I must admit a one under 69 would have been the ultimate.

When you are tired and your mind shuts off – ie) no swing thoughts – you may play the best golf of your life.

Play with someone positive and fun after the speed round.  Laughter and good conversation can help keep your mind off bad shots and tired muscles.

Reward yourself.  I had a pizza and a couple of glasses of my favorite wine after the round.

Aleve is wonderful.  I took one first thing in the morning and another before the last round.  No soreness (at least that day).

Last, but not least, IT CAN BE DONE.  I’m no superman and don’t do any special exercises.  I have been walking 27 the last couple of months, but I only play once a week as a general rule.  If you are in reasonable shape and are mentally tough, you can walk 40, 50, 60 or more.  My son and I are already making plans for my 70 at 70 in Scotland where it’s light for 18+ hours in the summer.

Hit’em well,

Russ Seale

—————————————————————————————————–

Final stats:

Golf Course: Oak Hollow – McKinney, TX

Par: 70

Total Number of shots: 254

18 holes from the Blue (6,736 yards) tees

42 holes from the White (6,211 yards) tees

Total Time (including rest periods): 10 hours 40 minutes

Approximate ground covered: 15 miles

Bag carried: Ogio Ozone with 14 clubs

Shoes used: ECCO Men’s Casual Cool II Hydromax Golf Shoes for 24 holes

Snake Eyes Athletic Men’s Golf Shoes for 36 holes