Amateur golfer aims to play 2,001 holes in a week!

Mick McLoughlin will attempt to play the most golf holes in a week.

Meet the Irishman attempting to break the world record for most golf holes played in a week – and raise $250,000 for charity!

Mick McLoughlin has just finished hitting 1,200 balls at the driving range in Brisbane, Australia, He’ll be back there tomorrow doing it all over again, and the day after that as well. 

Nearly 12 months of training will finally come to an end on November 21, when the Irish-born 57-year-old attempts to break the world record for the greatest number of golf holes played in seven days (cart assisted).

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To do so, he’ll need to complete a grand total of 2,001 holes in a week, which equates to 286 holes or 16 rounds per day.

“The challenge itself is a bit like speedgolf,” says McLoughin, who has already lost 10kg this year through his exertions. “I’ve had a few trial runs and last week I hit 105 balls in six minutes. I’ve got 16 hours of daylight, so I’m aiming for an hour a round.

“Club Car are building buggies especially for the event, so there’s no speed restriction on them. But we do have a contingency, so if I need to go into the night, we’ve got some lights set up on the golf course.”

McLoughlin, who runs his own construction company, is expecting to play for 16 hours each day at Wynnum Golf Club, but that’s only one part of the challenge. The other half is raising $250,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland (RMHC SEQ), which provides support for sick children and their families.

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“I was sitting in a RMHC SEQ board meeting in late 2020, listening to how difficult Covid-19 was making operations and fundraising,” explains McLoughlin. “Our usual fundraising events weren’t an option, so I decided to challenge myself as an individual and make the charity the beneficiary. I just needed the idea.”

After stumbling across the memorabilia of a golfer who had played 1,800 golf holes in seven days, McLoughlin investigated the record further and discovered that it had been broken 10 years ago by Geno Bonnalie, who holds the current record of 2,000 holes.

“I decided then and there, that’s it, I’m going to go for the world record and raise money along the way,” smiles McLoughlin.

Bonnalie, who caddies for Joel Dahmen on the PGA Tour, set the record at Lewiston Country Club in Idaho, when he averaged 71.802 per round on the par 72-course.

McLoughlin doesn’t expect to come close to matching that record. “I only play off 13!” he laughs. But he has invested in a golf coach, personal trainer, physiotherapist and a nutritionist, to get ready for his world record attempt, which has piqued the interest of the current record holder.

Bonnalie is sponsoring McLoughlin and has vowed to beat his effort if he is successful. “He’s laid down the gauntlet,” says McLoughlin with a wry smile. “The charity would like me to play 2,021 holes, but I’ll see how I’m feeling. My target is still 2,001. I know Geno had some hours leftover when his family pleaded with him to stop. Mine may do the same!”

To donate to McLoughlin’s challenge, click here.

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