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Speed Golf - also know as Extreme Golf - will be played in Bahrain for the first time on Saturday, April 11, at the Royal Golf Club, Riffa Views.
The sport involves completing a golf course in the lowest possible combination of strokes and time, preferably at a run. No golf carts or caddies are permitted so a good level of fitness is a must for all competitors.
The idea of trying out a Speed Golf tournament in Bahrain came from club member Ed Daly, 36, who lives in Adliya with his wife, Louise.
Sport-loving Ed is busy training to take part in his first marathon race - the Flora London Marathon - later this month as part of the St John Ambulance team and has been pounding the pavements of Manama six times a week, covering around 45 miles, in preparation for the event. He saw a Speed Golf challenge as a great way to raise additional sponsorship cash for his chosen charity.
The goal of Speed Golf is to shoot the lowest possible score in the shortest amount of time. A Speed Golf score is calculated by adding together a player's golf score and the total time it takes them to complete 18 holes.
For example, a golf score of 85 combined with a running time of 55 minutes and 30 seconds produces a Speed Golf score of 140:30.
"Speed Golf has been around for some time in the States, Europe and Japan. I thought it would be great fun to give it a try here in Bahrain and raise some additional funds at the same time," explained Ed Daly, a performance manager at DHL Aviation. "Everyone at the club has been very supportive of the idea and I hope to see a lot of fitness fanatics taking part!"
Competitors in the Royal Golf Club's Speed Golf Challenge will each pay a BD10 entry fee which will entitle them to make one prediction as to what the winning score will be.
Players are also encouraged to raise additional sponsorship pledges - each pledge of BD10 entitles the sponsor to a prediction on the winning score too. The person making the correct or nearest prediction will win 10 per cent of the total prize fund.
"This will be a fantastic day out for golfers of all abilities," said Phil Jones, the club's director of golf operations. "Even if a player has a poor round, they might still have a chance of winning a prize if they manage to complete the course quickly. This is a great way to raise money for charities while also providing an excellent source of entertainment for Bahrain's golfing community."
Eighty per cent of the prize fund from the Speed Golf Challenge will be donated to St John Ambulance, 10 per cent will be given to the person making the winning prediction and the remaining 10 per cent will be donated to the RIA Institute in Bahrain.
Golfers wishing to take part in the Speed Golf Challenge should contact d.bushiri@theroyalgolfclub.com
