A man from New York has undertaken an extraordinary golfing feat, claiming the record for playing the most consecutive hours of golf. His remarkable 35-hour golf marathon took place at a course on Long Island, starting on a Sunday evening and concluding early on Tuesday morning.
Initially, Kelechi Ezihie had his sights set on a 24-hour golf marathon to earn a Guinness World Record. However, partway through his endeavor, he discovered that a golfer from the UK had already completed a 32-hour session on a Norwegian course in late May. His sister informed him of this record after researching online.
Determined to surpass this milestone, Ezihie persevered through challenges including rain, exhaustion, and soreness to outdo the British golfer, Isaac Rowlands.
“I am proud to declare myself a world champion,” Ezihie expressed. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it’s something I’ll share with my future generations.”
With assistance from friends, flashlights, and glow-in-the-dark golf balls, the 27-year-old began his quest at the Huntington Crescent Club around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and concluded at approximately 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. During his marathon, he completed 18 holes seven times, totaling 126 holes.
Throughout his endeavor, friends recorded video footage, and a team of witnesses attested to his performance, ensuring Guinness could authenticate his record attempt. According to Guinness rules, he was permitted a five-minute rest each hour, which he utilized in 20-minute intervals at the conclusion of every round.
A representative from Guinness, Kylie Galloway, mentioned that the evaluation of evidence for a record involves a 12 to 15-week review process. Currently, no one holds the longest golf marathon record, which requires participation for at least 24 hours.
Ezihie, who serves as an assistant manager for an organization dedicated to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism, hoped to leverage this record to promote golf’s inclusivity. “Golf can appear intimidating and exclusive to wealthy individuals,” he remarked in a Wednesday phone call. “Golf has imparted valuable lessons, and I believe it should be accessible to all, offering learning experiences for everyone.”
Having taken up golf merely two and a half years ago, Ezihie actively promotes the sport locally and is fundraising to establish a golf center in Imo State, Nigeria, his homeland, to encourage young people to take up the game. He has resided in the U.S. since 2008.
As the marathon drew to a close in Tuesday’s early hours, Ezihie admitted to enduring significant foot pain. “I was prepared to continue until I physically couldn’t,” he stated. “Even when my legs gave out and I was limping for most of the round, I relished every moment.”