SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – At Horton Smith Golf Course, the leaves are different, the cart paths will be different thanks to construction, and even the golf course itself is different.

“Super fun, really weird, but once you try it, it’s better than you think,” said speedgolfer Nic Goodin.

If golf and cross country had a baby, it would be speedgolf.

“Instead of four to five hours, you’re looking at 40 to 60 minutes (to play a round),” said Garrett Holt, a speedgolf player and golf professional at Horton Smith.

Speedgolf has been around since the late 70s. Your score counts just like in golf; the lower the better. But your time going 18 holes also counts; the faster, the better.

“Let’s say it took you 50 minutes, add that to your score of 80, and then you get a total score of 130,” Garrett explained.

There are no golf carts, pull carts or time for beer carts. Most speedgolfers carry four or five clubs with them. Driver, 7 iron, one or two wedges and a putter.

“I work full time at Horton Smith,” said Garrett, who started playing speedgolf in 2015. “I was trying to find different, alternative ways of golf to get people to play. (There is) foot golf, fling golf and speed golf. I love it because I have a young family at home and I don’t have a lot of time for four or five hour tours.

Nic worked with Garrett at Horton Smith and at first he didn’t understand.

“I was looking out the window from the pro shop and watching him come up here on the 10th hole,” Nic said, “and I was like, this is just the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.”

But soon, Nic started playing speedgolf to get in shape.

“I ate for two while my wife was pregnant,” Nic joked. “And so it was time, it was time to get in shape. And sure enough, I played three holes here with a few clubs and I was exhausted and I had a great time.

The oldest of the trio, Tim Shryack, has been playing speedgolf for more than two decades.

Having a career in healthcare, Tim knows the benefits of speedgolf over traditional play.

“Get out and walk, breathe fresh air, move your body,” Tim said. “And you don’t sprint.” I mean, sometimes you do it, you take the momentum and you go on a par three, you know? And if you can knock out the par three in a minute, you save time.

This month, this trio will represent not only the Ozarks, but also the United States at Speedgolf World Championships in Japan.

“Representing our country is a huge honor for me,” Nic said. “And I think about looking out the window here in the pro shop and just thinking, ‘I would never do that.’ It’s a great opportunity.

No doubt the first Masters winner, Horton Smith of Springfield, would smile as he saw his game evolve.

“It’s amazing with a fraction of the clubs, a fraction of the time, and my heart rate skyrocketing,” Nic said.

“I’m going to keep doing this until I can’t get out of bed,” Tim said.

“Golf can take many different forms,” said Garrett, who is trying to grow the sport. “You don’t have to have a full set of clubs. You are in a cart. You take the whole day.

THE The world championship takes place in Japan November 14 and 15.

Golfers pay their own dues to represent the United States, but if you’d like to help, we have a link to their GoFundMes in this story on ky3 dot-com.

To help Garrett Holt represent the United States at the Speedgolf Worlds, click here for his GoFundMe page.

To help Nic Goodin represent the United States at Speedgolf Worlds, click here for his GoFundMe page.

Some area golf courses allow speedgolf, but you can’t just show up at any time and expect to play. Usually, these tee times take place before the course officially opens in the morning. Contact your course to inquire about speedgolf availability.

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