ON YOUR MARK: REVOLUTIONARY GOLF SET FOR RAPID START AT HOPE ISLAND
A REVOLUTIONARY golf concept will take the first step on what shapes as a fast track to success at one of the city’s top courses on Friday.
Founded by Kingscliff’s Matt Burgess last year, Rapid Golf will hold its inaugural Australian Championships at Links Hope Island as it fights to attract new players to the sport.
The game focuses on players’ speed during each hole, not their number of strokes, to combine the fundamentals of golf with cardio exercise.
The Australian Championships will be the first competitive hitout for the concept, which has gained the support of Links Hope Island and the ALPG.
With 10 men and 10 women to fight for the title of maiden national champion, Burgess believes Rapid Golf has the potential to change golf around the world.
“The idea is making sure we’ve got that fitness element to a game that hasn’t had that. A lot of people run courses but what we want to do is bring some structure to that and feel like that’s not weird,” he said.
“Once we’ve got this concept established, we’re able to speak to other golf clubs and use the Australian Championships as an example of what we can do around the country and the world. It’s bringing that demographic that are laser focused on a holistic fitness to the assets we have, which are these golf clubs.”
Links Hope Island general manager Tracey-Lea Tiley said it was time to “walk the walk” with innovation.
“Rapid Golf presents a sustainable solution that we think will attract Millennials through fitness and social networking well after the Australian Championships,” she said.