I discovered my favorite sport by accident.
One afternoon in June 2012, I wanted to go for a jog but also wanted to play golf, so I decided to play nine holes with six clubs in a small carry bag and jogged around the golf course.
It was great. I felt like I found the secret to life as I played nine holes and did a 3-mile run in only about 45 minutes.
I soon found out there was an actual organization for the sport: Speedgolf International. In October 2012, I traveled to Bandon, Ore. and played in the inaugural Speedgolf World Championships at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. I won my age group, 40-49, shooting a 78 in 62 minutes.
I have been an avid golfer since I was young. My father got me into golf around the time I was in the sixth grade. I have played in competitive tournaments locally and also some United States Golf Association qualifiers in my free time.
I’ve spent more time exercising since 2006, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I spent a week at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital after my colon resection surgery.
After that, it became a passion of mine to stay in really good shape and keep my weight down, so I do a lot of running, which led me to Speedgolf.
Speedgolf is a combination of running and golfing. You play with six clubs or fewer and try to take as little time as possible running from shot to shot. Your score is a combination of your time and also your strokes, so a person shooting an 80 in 60 minutes would have a score of 140. Rules are similar to those of regular golf. During Speedgolf tournaments, you play by yourself and officials at each hole keep track of the scores.
Last fall I played in the elite division and finished 18th in the world in a two-day event, shooting 80 in 60 minutes the first day and 76 in 58 minutes the second day. The event was broadcast live on the Internet on Oomba.tv.
Speedgolf allows me to live an active lifestyle, get my exercise and play golf in about a fourth of the time. Playing Speedgolf, 18 holes usually t
akes an hour or less, as opposed to playing conventional golf, which could take more than four hours. I’m a 3-handicap and I shoot about the same score when I play Speedgolf – sometimes even better. Speedgolf shows that taking more time does not equate to better play. Almost all golfers who try Speedgolf for the first time are amazed how well they play.
I have a legal practice; a wife, Shelby; and two young boys, Gabriel, 9, and David, 8. Speedgolf allows me to play my golf, get in a good run and be able to be back home to spend time with my family. This sport is perfect for today’s hectic and fast-paced times. It’s the perfect game for the working guy.
If you’re interested in learning more, please visit www.speedgolfinternational.com and contact me at levinsonlaw1@me.com. I’m trying to arrange a local Speedgolf event.
Larry Levinson has been a practicing attorney since 1994 and a New Albany resident since 2003. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
