If you’ve ever played 36 holes, or even 54, in one day, you’re fully aware of how taxing it can be on your body. Hell, if you carry your bag for only 9 or 18 you’ll earn plenty of aches and pains.
That’s how many holes Swiss man/maniac Jürg Randegger played in one day last month, shattering the official World Record for most holes played while walking in 12 hours or less. Randegger accomplished the feat on May 21 at Ostschweizerischen Golf Club in Niederbüren, Switzerland, a 6,472-yard par 72 that he played a whopping 14 times in 11 hours and 22 minutes.
According to Golf Monthly, Randegger broke the official record by 31 holes, though the unofficial record was held by former MLB player Eric Byrnes, who walked 245 holes in 12 hours or less at Half Moon Bay in San Francisco, Ca., in April of 2019. Byrnes, however, continued to play, later setting the official record for most holes played while walking in 24 hours or less at 420.
But according to the Guinness World Records website, Randegger is now the official record holder in the 12 hours category. “Jürg attempted this record not only for his love of running and golf but also to bring awareness to the Special Olympics Switzerland that help people, through the power of sports, with intellectual disabilities,” reads the website’s description.
All told, Randegger walked/ran 57 miles and took 1,348 strokes, all of them with a 7-iron. He made five birdies on the day, and shot a 90 in his final round, his second-lowest score of the entire day.
“I’m very happy to have achieved this ambitious goal,” Randegger said. “Even if at times it was a real torture, not only but also due to the miserable weather conditions.”