Trio tackles marathon golf day
SANDPOINT — Is there really such a thing as too much golf? A trio of locals decided to put the question to the test on the longest day of the year last Sunday, choosing the summer solstice to see how much golf they could squeeze into one day.
Bill Connolly, Brad Arnold and Tim Feehan teed off at the Idaho Club at 4:45 a.m., the official sunrise according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and sank their final putts at 8:51 p.m., the official time of sunset.
All told they played 75 holes of golf, more than four 18-hole rounds, covering nearly 14 miles (they all used carts) while stopping twice for 20 minutes to wolf down a quick bite to eat. They combined to make 13 birdies, with Feehan posting the low round of the day with a 79.
The challenge was the brainchild of Connolly, who jokingly called the adventure “insane.”
“I sent out e-mails to 15 friends and got two takers,” explained Connolly, who carries a handicap of eight. “The basic idea was on the longest day of the year, what would you like to do? For a lot of guys golf comes to mind.”
After 72 holes — for the pros an official four-day tournament — Arnold and Feehan were dead even at 352 — a tidy average of 88 per round. With more than 20 minutes left before sunset, they decided to play a sudden death playoff for the unofficial title. Feehan made par on No. 17, the second hole of the playoff, to claim bragging rights.
“The toughest part for me was losing,” said Connolly with a hearty laugh, lauding the camaraderie of the group. “We thought it would be slow and relaxing, but then finishing the four rounds became the focus instead of relaxing.”
Connolly said everyone has asked him if he plans to do it again next year, answering that not enough time has passed to make a decision. Leisure sport or not, playing that much golf took a physical toll on the group.
“In the middle of the fourth round fatigue started to set it, and it was understood, ‘let’s get this thing done,’” explained Connolly, adding the entire group was sore on Monday morning. “It felt like doing any physical activity for 16 hours straight; we all felt it.”
So how much golf it too much? Perhaps the imponderable question will have to remain unanswered, at least until the next summer solstice.