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INTERVIEW WITH 2025 SPEEDGOLF CHAMPION JAMES HARDY

Matt Nicholson — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:53:38 +0000

Last month at Sunningdale Heath GC, PGA Member James Hardy stunned the field to lift the British Speedgolf Champion Trophy, just two months after first trying the sport.

A self-confessed “golf geek” who came to the game at 16 before earning a US golf scholarship and completing his PGA training, Hardy has found in Speedgolf the perfect blend of competition, community and fitness.

Golf News caught up with him to hear about his late start in golf, his rapid rise in Speedgolf, and why he believes the format could play a big role in the future of the game.

Tell us how you got into golf at 16 and the path it took you?

I was a late starter, picking up golf at 16 when my dad joined me at the local club. I was hooked immediately.

Within two years I became Club Champion, which led to a golf scholarship in the US.

My game really developed there under my coach and close friend Beau Baugh, who I still visit to this day. Winning the South East Collegiate Championship is still one of my fondest memories.

After graduating, I returned to the UK to complete my PGA, and since then, I’ve been immersed in the game in every way.

James Hardy on his way to victory

How did you hear about Speedgolf and get involved?

I have my partner to thank. She knew I was a golf geek and always first out at Aldwickbury to squeeze in a quick two-hour round.

She entered me into the British Speedgolf Championship and the moment I tried it, I knew it was the perfect fit.

The European Speedgolf Championship in Finland was your first event, how did you get on and what did you learn ahead of the British?

I actually entered the European Open at the last minute, just weeks before the British. As a complete newcomer, finishing 8th was a huge surprise and gave me valuable lessons about preparation and pace.

But what really stood out was the Speedgolf community. From Close House PGA Pro Will Robson’s advice, to running pointers from former Champion Luke Willett and practical equipment advice from others, everyone was so generous with their support.

That sense of family was as important as the competition itself.

You won against stiff opposition at the British Speedgolf Championships. What did this mean to you and what impact has it had on your future ambitions?

I’d only been playing Speedgolf for two months, so my goal was just to finish in the top 10.

Winning with such a large and accomplished field was a complete shock, proof of what happens when you put yourself out there and commit.

But the real highlight for me was raising £3,000 for Parkinson’s UK in honour of my dad, who lives with the condition. That meant more than the trophy. Looking forward, I want to take on more of the International Speedgolf circuit, keep improving, and do my bit to grow the sport.

Quick turnaround and onto the next tee

Speedgolf is about pace and performance. How do you balance golf and fitness, and what could you build on?

Golf is my strength, fitness is still a work in progress. Speed isn’t naturally my strong suit, but I’m determined to improve that side of my game. The beauty of Speedgolf is that it pushes you to keep getting better in both areas.

As a PGA member who didn’t pursue a tour or coaching career, how would you describe your love of golf — and why does Speedgolf fit you so well?

I’m a golf geek at heart, but I’ve always loved fitness too,football, skiing, the gym, running. Speedgolf feels like it was designed for me. It’s quicker, it’s healthier, it builds community, and it’s fun.

Golf is evolving, and I believe clubs will soon start offering Speedgolf tee times.

How does Speedgolf fit alongside managing a business when time is precious?

That’s one of its biggest appeals. You can play 18 holes in under an hour and get a serious workout at the same time.

Even on tough days, you walk away fitter, sharper, and having learned something new.

For anyone balancing work and life, Speedgolf is the ultimate way to keep golf in your routine

British Speedgolf Champion 2025 James Hardy

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Willett sprints his way to fastest 9-hole world record

Nick Bayly — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:38:45 +0000

Reigning British SpeedGolf champion Luke Willett has set a new world record for the fastest 9-hole round of golf by an individual after completing the requisite number of holes in just 20 minutes and 12 seconds.

Buckinghamshire-based Willett battled through temperatures of 34° to etch his name into the Guinness World Records. He completed the course in nine over par, using just a 3-wood, 6-iron and a pitching wedge, although his score did not count towards the record.“I am absolutely thrilled to have set this Guinness World Record for the fastest 9-hole round of golf,” said an exhausted Luke following the challenge. “It’s an incredible feeling to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport, and I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by DP World, and I’m honoured to be a part of this record-breaking journey with them.”

According to Guinness World Records the record for the fastest 18-hole round of golf by an individual is 27 minutes and 9 seconds. This was achieved by James Carvill at Warrenpoint Golf Course in Northern Ireland in 1987. The course measured 6,154 yards.

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Sunningdale Heath pro sprints to third place in US Speedgolf Open

Nick Bayly — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:52:22 +0000

Sunningdale Heath Golf Club PGA teaching professional Luke Willett is taking a well-earned breather after finishing third in the 2023 US Speedgolf Open held in Kentucky earlier this month.

Willett, a youthful and super-fit 39-year-old, recorded the fastest rounds of the 36-hole competition, playing Oldham County Country Club in just 41 minutes in the first round, and then going even faster over the second 18 holes, which he completed in just 38 minutes.

However, despite being called ‘Speedgolf’, the sport isn’t just about speed – it’s also about your score – with a competitor’s total score being a combination of their scratch score with their time in minutes. Sadly, Luke said that his putting wasn’t up to its usual high standard, and his scores of 81 and 83 meant that he finished third behind eventual winner Jin Ota of Japan.

Luke being interview during this month’s US Speedgolf Open in Kentucky

“It was just the putting that let me down,” Willett explained. “The conditions were perfect and my pace was fast, but the equally fast greens caught me out. My goal next year is to carry on the trajectory of performance and go for the ultimate world record – to play 18 holes in 18 minutes.”

Given that the length of the golf course where the title is contested can vary, but has to be a minimum of 6,000 yards (around 5km), this will be no small feat. But Willett is putting 100 per cent into his training, combining early morning sprint sessions, trips to the gym and following a strict diet to ensure the speed side of things get taken care of. Alongside that he practices like a tour professional to ensure he has the game required to shoot the lowest score.

“Speedgolf is a beautiful sport and one that works perfectly for me with a young family,” Willett added. “It’s also improved my coaching. I’d love for more PGA Professionals to give it a try. It’s not hard to convince golf courses to give up the first tee time of the day to speed golfers. I’d be more than happy to take anyone interested under my wing and take them out for the experience.”

Willett’s strong performance in the US Speedgolf Open is the culmination of an incredible season. He started off with a 10th place in the New Zealand Open, followed by a third place in the Irish Open, before reaching the pinnacle of his pace at the end of the summer when he was crowned British Open Speedgolf champion in front of home crowds at Sunningdale Heath in August, sprinting around the 3,705-yard, 18-hole course in just 25 minutes and 39 seconds and shooting a nine-over 67 on the par-58 layout.

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