A New York man has claimed the record for the longest consecutive hours playing golf, completing a 35-hour marathon at a Long Island golf course from Sunday evening to early Tuesday morning.
Kelechi Ezihie originally aimed to play for 24 hours to set a Guinness World Record, but after learning that a British golfer, Isaac Rowlands, had completed 32 hours in Norway in May, Ezihie pushed on. His sister discovered Rowlands’ record and alerted him.
Despite fatigue, rain, and sore feet, Ezihie kept playing until he surpassed Rowlands’ time. “I feel proud to be a world champion,” he said. “It’s a rare opportunity, and something I’ll tell my kids and grandkids.”
Ezihie, 27, began his golf marathon at Huntington Crescent Club at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and completed his final putt just after 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, playing a total of 126 holes—seven rounds of 18 holes. Armed with friends, flashlights, and glow-in-the-dark golf balls, he documented the entire event for Guinness verification.
Guinness allows a five-minute break per hour, but Ezihie took 20-minute breaks between rounds, while adhering to the guidelines. Kylie Galloway, a spokesperson for Guinness, explained that it takes 12 to 15 weeks to review the evidence and confirm the record. She added that no one currently holds the record for the longest golf marathon, but applicants must play for at least 24 hours.
Ezihie, who works as an assistant manager at an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, said his goal was to encourage diversity in golf. “People think golf is for the wealthy, but it’s a game everyone can enjoy and learn from,” he explained.
A golfer for only two and a half years, Ezihie is also working to raise funds for a golf center in Imo State, Nigeria, to promote the sport among children. Having lived in the U.S. since 2008, Ezihie said his feet were sore by the end of his marathon, but he was determined to finish. “I was willing to play ’til the wheels fell off,” he said. “I limped through the last round, but I enjoyed every moment.”
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