A round of golf takes four to five hours. Plenty of people would love to play but can’t give up half a day. PGA professional and speedgolf world number two James Hardy explains how speedgolf can bring them into your club, along with new revenue.
Golf at full speed
Speedgolf is golf played at a run. You carry three to five clubs, run between every shot, and your strokes and your time are added together. The lowest total wins. A round takes 40 minutes to an hour and a half, not four or five hours.
I’ve been a PGA professional for 25 years. This year I won the French, US, BeNeLux and British national speedgolf titles, four countries in one season. But what excites me most is what speedgolf can do for golf clubs.
Faster golf, more players, more money
Letting speedgolfers on the course means faster golf and more players. When a round takes 40 minutes to an hour and a half, the same course can take more golfers in a day. That means more green fees, more memberships and more people in the clubhouse afterwards.
Speedgolf also works well first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening, when the course is quiet. Those are times that can bring in money without getting in the way of members.
New people into the game
Lots of people would love to play golf but can’t take four or five hours out of their day. Speedgolf fits in before work or on a summer evening. It opens the game up to busy people who thought golf just wasn’t for them.
It also brings in people who would never have thought of golf: runners, gym-goers and people who want to get fit. For them, trying to hit a quality shot with your heart pumping out of your chest is a brand new challenge.
Fitness that helps people
You run the whole course, so you get your fitness in while you play golf. Your heart is pumping, your legs are burning, and you still have to stand over the ball and hit a good shot. It’s great for your health, and it’s great for your head. Bad round? Who cares. You got your fitness in.
For clubs, that’s a powerful message. Golf becomes a way to get fit, not just a way to spend an afternoon.
Only five clubs, and a lot of fun
You don’t need a full bag of 14 clubs to start. A few clubs and a pair of running shoes is enough, which makes it easier and cheaper for new players to get going.
With fewer clubs, the skill comes back into the game. You move the ball. You hit three-quarter shots, low punches and shots that shape round trees. You create the shot instead of pulling out the club that does it for you. It’s the most fun I’ve had on a golf course.
How your club can get started
Here are some simple ways to bring speedgolf into your club:
- Speedgolf tee times: set aside early-morning or evening slots for speedgolfers.
- A speedgolf rate: offer a green fee or membership option for speedgolf players.
- Taster sessions: let your PGA professional teach the format and a fast shot routine.
- A monthly competition: run a speedgolf medal or league, scored on strokes plus time.
- Run and play nights: invite local running clubs and gyms to come and try it.
- Host an event: speedgolf championships are played at golf clubs, so put your course forward.
Every one of these brings new faces through the door. And new faces become new members.
Nothing to lose
Speedgolf has so much to learn, it’s a great community, and it has changed my life for the better. For clubs, it’s a simple way to fill the course at quiet times, bring in new golfers and add new revenue. Give it a go. You can find out more at britishspeedgolf.co.uk.
About the author
James Hardy is a PGA professional of 25 years and speedgolf’s World No.2 and European No.1. In 2026 he won the French, US, BeNeLux and British national titles, and in November he plays in the World Championship in New Zealand. Instagram: @SpeedGolfHardy
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