brian-cha-golf

Being in the Guinness Book of World Records used to be something to be really proud of, before entries like ‘most pieces of sweetcorn eaten using only your toes in 60 seconds’ and ‘most T-shirts worn at once’* detracted from the prestige somewhat. 

(*The record is 270, which, to be fair, is actually quite impressive.)

Holding a golf world record would still be pretty cool, though. And you don’t need to be Rory McIlroy or a long drive champion to do it. Here are some records that you don’t need to be a professional to beat…

Most golf holes played in five days

Got a golf holiday booked and fancy squeezing in a few extra rounds? Give this a try…

British Army Captain Stuart Ball played 432 holes in five days during 2012. He walked over 150 miles in the process, hitting his TaylorMade Burner 2.0 6-iron well over 2,000 times. Probably needed a new grip after that. 

Most golf holes played in 12 hours

If you’ve ever done the Macmillan Longest Day Golf Challenge and felt stiff for a week after playing 72 holes in 24 hours, spare a thought for Scott Holland. The Canadian clocked up 221 holes in just 12 hours in May 2005. He set the record at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta, using only his 7-iron. 

Greatest distance between two rounds of golf played on the same day

Australian John Knobel played 18 holes at The Coast Golf Club in Sydney, before hopping on a flight to New York, where he played another 18 at Forest Park Golf Club. The two courses are 9.931 miles apart. 

Most golf balls caught from over 100 yards in a minute

British duo Nicholas Parkes and Daniel Parkes set the record at Edwalton Golf Club in Nottinghamshire in 2013. Daniel hit balls using his 5-iron, and Nicholas, wearing wicket-keeping gloves, managed to grab seven before the 60 seconds were up. 

Oldest person to make a hole-in-one

He’s more than four times Jordan Spieth’s age, but that didn’t stop 103-year-old Gus Andreone when he stood on the tee at the 113-yard 14th hole at Palm Aire Country Club in Florida. The long-time PGA pro says he “just got my arms in the air, just like anyone else would do” and secured his eighth career ace. 

Most golf balls held in one hand 

We guarantee this is one you’ll want to try as soon as possible. We managed 14, which we thought was respectable, until we realised the world record is 27, set by Italy’s Silvo Sabba in 2012. 

Most balls hit in 12 hours

We feel a bit tired after a bucket of 100 balls, so we dread to think how Brian Cha felt after hitting 9,959 shots in 12 hours at Whitehead Golf Club in Hong Kong in 2013. Only shots that made it into a designated arget area counted, which Cha managed every 4.33 seconds. 

Which record do you fancy breaking?