Howdy speedgolf family! You're reading This Week in Speedgolf.

Have you listened to Rainbow Unicorns yet? It's my new monthly podcast with Luke Willett. Available wherever fine podcasts are streamed.

Here’s what’s happening in speedgolf this week.

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Return of the King

"It's not a 4 mile run!" they protest.

"It's a par 68!" they wheeze.

Haters can hate on Fitzroy Golf Club all they want. Sure, it's not a "championship layout", but it's the home course of 2022 World Champ Jamie Reid and four of the top five at Worlds 2024, or as Jamie proudly calls it: "the home of speedgolf."

Jamie broke 99 at Fitzroy this week, posting a casual 67 (-1) in 31:35 = 98:35 during what he graciously calls a "tournament simulation round."

It was international news when Jamie shot 99:03 at the 2024 New Zealand Speedgolf Open, inspiring the first Speedgolf Baby video to crack 1 million views.

If he's able to run that course in 31 minutes WITHOUT tournament adrenaline, there's only one conclusion: the comeback is on.

Jamie's post concludes: "3 weeks until the comeback starts." By my math, that means he's playing the Wairarapa Speedgolf Open (Feb 7-8), a tune-up for the New Zealand Speedgolf Open in April.

Everyone else dreaming of a World Championships title can consider this a warning shot. Since I'm only dreaming of a Captain's Pick, I say "welcome back, Champ".

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Speedgolf USA Unveils 2026 Tournament Schedule

Speedgolf USA Director Scott Dawley shared with me the unofficial 2026 event lineup this week — six confirmed stops plus one tantalizing "TBD" that could mark a turning point for the sport. No signups available yet, but you can mark your calendars now!

Here's the roadmap:

• April 17 – Indiana Speedgolf Open — Season opener in the Hoosier State; weather questionable.
• May 17 – Arizona Speedgolf Open — Accuracy off the tee was essential last year, with firm fairways
• June 14 – Oregon Speedgolf Open — Pacific Northwest speedgolf returns to Arrowhead
• July 11–12 – Kentucky Speedgolf Open — Two-day showdown at GlenOaks -- the toughest speedgolf test on the US circuit.
• July 25–26 – 10th US Speedgolf Open — The big one. A decade of national championships, returning to Temecula Creek Golf Club
• Sept 6–7 – Missouri Speedgolf Open — Last chance to make Team USA at the site of Scott Dawley's record.
• TBD – NYSGO (potentially co-sanctioned with NYSGA) — Here's where it gets interesting. A partnership with the New York State Golf Association would represent a legitimacy breakthrough — traditional golf establishment recognizing speedgolf as complement, not curiosity. But anyone who's worked with large golf organizations knows these conversations move at the pace of a Sunday foursome. Even if it doesn't happen this year, the fact they're even talking is progress.

Keep an eye on the SGUSA Events page. Signups will be available soon.

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Viewer Discretion Advised...

Rob Hogan just appeared in a Cobra Golf commercial alongside Rickie Fowler and Max Homa, and I've watched it 10 times.

The ad opens on what looks like a support group. People sit in folding chairs, clutching coffee cups.

"OPTM tore my family apart," someone confesses.

We cut to a flashback — a normal golfer absolutely striping one while Rickie Fowler and Max Homa look on in awe. "Damn, Jerry!"

And who's running this meeting? Who's there to guide these poor souls through their equipment-induced crisis?

None other than Speedgolf Rob. I won't spoil the rest. Go watch it.

Here's the bigger picture: while Speedgolf USA is building commercial infrastructure through partnerships like Paladin Brookes 👇, individual athletes like Rob and Lauren Cupp have already proven to be marketable influencers for big brands. The sport's growth can and should come from both directions — professionalization from the top, athlete marketability from the grassroots.

And if Cobra's betting on Rob Hogan to sell drivers, I'd say the grassroots side is doing just fine.

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Speedgolf USA brings in the suits

Speedgolf USA just announced a partnership with Paladin Brookes, a London-based sports consultancy that (I assume) arranges games of Dungeons & Dragons with Brooks Koepka. Sign me up!

But seriously, from my brief conversation with Scott Dawley plus a little online sleuthing, this move seems very clear. PB helps emerging sports navigate the transition between "cool thing athletes do" and "thing sponsors actually pay for".

A couple of weeks ago, PlaySpeedgolf announced they'd be attending the Endurance Exchange conference in Orlando, looking to position speedgolf within the 'multisport' umbrella. While Scott, Jason Hawkins, and Garlin Smith are out there making the case to triathlon race directors, someone also needs to be in boardrooms explaining to CMOs why speedgolf is the perfect brand fit for their performance beverage / GPS watch / footwear line. That's where PB comes in.

At the 2025 US Speedgolf Open, we saw bigger-than-usual sponsors stepping up (Asics Golf and LMNT, to name a couple). In order to call this a success, SGUSA will be looking for bigger names and (probably more importantly) bigger checks.

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Upcoming Events

• Feb 1, 2026: Speedgolf Minami Tsukuba Open (9H) — sunset sprint on Ibaraki parkland; clean routing, fast flow. event page
• Feb 7–8, 2026: Wairarapa Speedgolf Open (Masterton/Carterton, NZ) — Waitangi-weekend doubleheader with “have-a-go” slots. schedule post
• Feb 26, 2026: Tee30 Morning Speedgolf — Albert Park (Melbourne); flat, fast circuit built for negative splits. tickets
• Mar 21–22, 2026: North Island Speedgolf Open — Waipū GC (NZ); linksy dunes + coastal breeze = tactical pacing. event page
• Mar 26, 2026: Tee30 Morning Speedgolf — Oakleigh (Melbourne); dawn dash tune-up, 9 or 18. tickets
• Apr 6, 2026: Wellington Speedgolf Open — The Morgans, Pāuatahanui; rolling hills, quick greens, big views. info
• Apr 10, 2026: Speedgolf Ibaraki Open (18H) — One Way GC (Ibaraki); true “through-round” venue made for momentum. tour schedule · register
• April 17 – Indiana Speedgolf Open — Season opener in the Hoosier State; weather questionable. (registration link coming soon)
• Apr 18–19, 2026: TORO New Zealand Speedgolf Open — Taupō GC (Centennial); national title weekend on runnable parkland. tournament page
• Nov 3–6, 2026: Speedgolf World Championships — Whitford Park GC (Auckland, NZ); the sport’s biggest stage returns to Aotearoa. announcement

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What's on your mind?

Last week's mailbag was so much fun, I want to do another one. Hit me with your best shot.

Adam

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Adam Lorton

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