LOCAL Houston | The City Guide MARCH 2016 | Page 52
SPORTS
SPEEDGOLF – IT’S ABOUT TIME
The old way of thinking of golf
looks a little something like this: a
relaxed sport where golfers were
anything but in a hurry. But golf
today is changing, thanks in part to
all of life’s other demands that don’t
allow for as much time on the
course as we’d all like.
Perhaps a marketing tactic, perhaps something to make golf more
athletic or perhaps a way to keep
the game alive, Speedgolf (sometimes known as Alternative Golf)
was born. According to Golf
Magazine, “You hit. You run. You
hit again. Your score: the sum of
your strokes and minutes played.”
“Every golfer has probably played Speedgolf at
one point or another; it’s not as foreign as people
think. If you’ve ever teed off first thing in the morning with no one to slow you down, and discovered
you naturally play much faster than the normal 4.5
hour round, you’ve played Speedgolf. If you’ve
ever found yourself racing against the sun late in
the evening, grabbing a quick 9 before darkness
falls...you’ve played Speedgolf,” SCOTT DAWLEY,
owner of Speedgolf Texas, says. Competitors generally carry 5–6 clubs in a small bag (no carts
allowed), wear athletic golf attire, put on their running shoes and are ready to go. As a result of this
modern-day time deficit we all experience, people
have never been more open to trying new and relevant methods of staying active and building community on the go. Examples beyond Speedgolf
include Crossfit, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race,
Warrior Dash and Ironman.
Dawley started Speedgolf Texas in 2013 to help
spread awareness of and participation in the sport.
The business originally started in Houston, but within a few months spread to Austin and San Antonio.
The sport isn’t as new as you think, but certainly
growing in popularity. According to Dawley, “It
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solves the three main issues golf is facing in the
21st century: It takes too long, costs too much and
is not enjoyable (mostly because of the first two).”
How is Speedgolf scored?
Strokes and minutes are added together to create
a Speedgolf score (SGS). For example: score 80
strokes + time 60 minutes = 140 Speedgolf score.
What are the benefits of Speedgolf?
It’s played in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of
the cost of a typical round of golf. Playing
Speedgolf enhances mental, physical and creative
capabilities on the golf course, while promoting
more enjoyment. Speedgolf also helps golfers get
out of their heads – a huge obstacle many avid
golfers face. When you’re in a rush, you set up
your shot and simply shoot.
Where to play Speedgolf in Houston?
All players must first attend an “Intro to Speedgolf”
session (visit SpeedgolfTexas.com and click “Get
Started”). Speedgolf is offered at Cypresswood
Golf Club and Blackhorse Golf Club (cost is $15
for 9 holes any weekday morning before the first
tee time).
Speedgolf (one word) is a
FUN, FAST and FITNESSpromoting alternative to the
traditional game.
By Jayme Lamm
Photography by Michael Piotrowski