Mayo club to debut groundbreaking scoring system at Speed Golf Irish Open

SPEED Golf is set for a game-changing transformation with the introduction of a new scoring format, making its global debut at the Speed Golf Ireland Open in Mayo on June 7.

Hosted by Castlebar Golf Club, and supported by Hard Metal, the event runs from 7 to 11 a.m. and is designed to level the playing field between runners and golfers, unlocking the sport’s full potential for mass participation.

Since its inception in San Diego in the late 1980s, formal Speed Golf has traditionally combined golf score and time equally (minutes plus shots). However, as top players have improved, competition has become increasingly about golfing ability, sidelining the endurance challenge that originally attracted competitive runners.

Now, a new time-only format is being introduced.

Under the new format, the final standings are based purely on time, with scoring incentives:

A birdie or better reduces total time by 1 minute.

A double bogey or worse adds 1 minute.

This new format evens the competition between golfers and runners, making Speed Golf more exciting, inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.

Rob Hogan, event organiser and two-time world Speed Golf champion, believes this shift is essential for the sport’s future.

He said: “In the late ’80s, a simple ad in a local running magazine drew 80 competitors overnight. But when runners found themselves outmatched by golfers, they didn’t return. If we had this format back then, those 80 could have become 800 - or even 8,000.”

This new format is an Irish innovation, setting the stage for a global transformation of Speed Golf.

To expand participation, Speed Golf Ireland is inviting both golf and running clubs nationwide to enter teams and individuals. With its new, inclusive format, Speed Golf offers a unique challenge for runners, golfers, and fitness enthusiasts - blending endurance and precision like never before.

Thomas Kelly, sponsor, Hard Metal, said: “At Hard Metal, we are proud to support the Irish Speed Golf Open at Castlebar Golf Club. Speed Golf is a sport that demands both precision and endurance- values that resonate deeply with our approach to engineering innovation.

“We’re excited to be part of this groundbreaking event and look forward to seeing competitors push the limits of skill and speed.”

For more details and to register, visit https://www.speedgolfrob.com/.