What is Speed Golf and How Can It Help Your Game? A Top Golf Coach Explains originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With pace-of-play being a major talking point these past few years, it might be time for the PGA Tour to adopt something wild and fun to mix it up at tournaments: Speed golf!
So what is speed golf? It’s exactly what it sounds like — golf that’s being played really, really fast.
While I had heard about speed golf before, I had never actually teed it up and experienced it for myself. But that all changed during a recent trip to The Reserve Golf Course just outside of Beaverton, OR when the Rainmakers Golf crew connected with top-ranked golf coach Christopher Smith — who I like to joke about being the “godfather of speed golf.”
Smith has held world records for completing 18 holes of golf in a flash, so who better to teach me about speed golf than him?
My Speed Golf Experience
If you’ve ever run a 5K, you know the process it takes to prepare for the race.
You hydrate and then stretch, try to manage your enthusiasm and adrenaline, and once the starting gun goes off, you just pace yourself to ensure you avoid injuries and, ultimately, cross the finish line.
Now take that same approach — but apply it to golf!
Not only did Smith have me huffing and puffing between golf shots, but because my blood was pumping faster than normal, my entire pre-shot routine was thrown off. That was a tricky thing to navigate, and made me rush everything during our 3-hole speed golf round.
While I didn’t hit the ball well — nor did we hit our goal of 1-under as a team playing best ball — the whole experience was one like I’ve never had on a golf course before. And, surprisingly, there are actually some major benefits to speed golf.
Why Speed Golf Helps Your Golf Game
Most of us have a trusted routine or process in golf — and we do everything we can in order to maintain that. After all, it’s what we’re told or taught in order to build consistent results.
But Smith actually told me something opposite, explaining how speed golf breaks those habits to eliminate golf anxiety or stress, which allows you to avoid overthinking golf shots.
“[As a first-time speed golfer] we took you out of your norm with a few things — like the number of clubs and your process,” Smith recaps. “For instance, taking a practice swing; if they help you, do them. If they don’t, don’t do them.”
Considering speed golf is about completing a golf round as quickly as possible (while still shooting as low as possible), eliminating practice swings is a must. But as I mention in the video above, it’s something I need as part of my routine to “lock in” before hitting a shot.
“Just taking one practice swing to help get the tempo and backswing length is important,” I tell Smith. “But your adrenaline is racing [while playing speed golf], so you feel like you just need to go as fast as possible while hitting these shots.”
Thinking of Trying Speed Golf? Here’s How to Warm Up
As I mentioned in the video, speed golf can play with your mind, causing you to lose your normal habits as a golfer.
For instance, prior to teeing off, Smith and I didn’t even stretch our muscles much, let alone go hit balls on the driving range — which isn’t recommended before a golf round. So if you’re interested in trying speed golf, here’s how Smith suggests getting ready.
“If you’re warming up for a round of speed golf, I’d suggest going to the range for about 45 minutes,” Smith tells me. “But you’d warm up with no practice swings [since that’s not how you’ll play during speed golf].
“I’d suggest warming up with your wedge to start, then taking your 7-iron, and to get comfortable with taking no practice swings.”
Overall, speed golf is a great way to change things up and see what works for you on the golf course. While it’s not for everyone, it’s something I’d recommend trying at least once — just don’t pull a hammy in the process.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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