KATHMANDU — England broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest hole of golf ever recorded at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ian Poulter and Matthew Southgate made up the team that set the new world record, narrowly beating a South Africa line-up, that also beat the previous best time held by France.
The French set the world record when their four-man relay team completed a 500-yard hole – the minimum length hole for a world record attempt — in 34.87 seconds in Spain last year.
While France failed to push their two opponents this time around, it was clear that both England and South Africa had gone close on the 15th hole at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort.
Following an anxious wait, it was announced that England was the team that had broken the record with a time of 32.7 seconds beating South Africa’s 32.9 seconds.
After Hatton hit the tee shot, Fitzpatrick played the approach shot, Poulter hit it close and Southgate tapped in to set the new world record.
Fitzpatrick said: “It was a lot of fun taking part in the attempt but to actually come away with a world record and have our names in the history books is something to be proud of.
“It’s a great thing for the Turkish Airlines Open and hopefully we can keep the record for a long time.”
George Coetzee from the South Africa team said: “It was so close and we hope that we get another chance at the record next year.”
Turkish Airlines’ Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Seda Kalyoncu, said: “We are very proud that the Turkey and the Turkish Airlines Open was the location for this record.
“Hopefully it will stand until next year and we can have another attempt at improving it. It was an exciting part of what we are certain will be another incredible week in Antalya.”
The record attempt was the start of a packed week at the Turkish Airlines Open, the third last tournament on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai with 78 players competing for a $7 million prize fund.
Turkish Airlines – an airline that flies to more countries than any other airline in the world – supports golf at every level and also backs a Challenge Tour tournament, the world’s biggest corporate amateur tournament, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, and allows passengers to travel with clubs for free.
The record can be viewed below:
