Kurtz breaks Guinness record

Bob Kurtz, right, receives a certificate of authentication from Guinness World Records adjudicator Mike Janela after the broke the record for most rounds of golf played within seven days at Quail Creek Resort on Saturday. | Bob Kurtz

A new Guinness world record for most rounds of golf played in seven days was established at Quail Creek Golf Resort early Saturday morning by Bob Kurtz of Cullman.

Kurtz, a 70-year-old Episcopalian vicar, pulled off the feat by playing 1,850 rounds, 49 more than the previous record holder. He ended his final round on the 14th hole at 5:10 a.m., four hours and 50 minute under seven days and 150 holes under his goal of 2,000 rounds. His maintained an average18-hole score of 74.55 in spite of daytime temperatures in the high 90s and sore hands caused by recurring blisters.

“I made it fine until the last day,” he said. “Late Friday I began to feel a little dizzy and went inside. My doctor ordered an IV and I was back on the course early Saturday,”

The last two days of Kurtz’s “Ironman 2000” were witnessed by Guinness World Records’ Mike Janela of the New York office.

After presenting Kurtz a certificate of authentication to commemorate his achievement, Janela told a crowd of about 50 team members and supporters that the last three men who attempted to break the record were much younger at 44, 34 and 28.

“This was truly a remarkable feat,” he added.

Kurtz said it took him a little longer to play a round on the course than what he had anticipated and his efforts to make up ground by playing at night with glow balls was frustrating.

“But the more I played the better I like the course,” he pointed out. “On one round I had four straight birdies and then bogeyed a couple of holes and wound up with a 44 on the back nine. I really got pepped up at the par 3 16th hole 16. I birdied it several times.”

Kurtz said he decided to go for the record in November 2010 after talking about it with Guinness representatives. Two years earlier, he set a Guinness record by playing 600 consecutive rounds.

What about going for other golf records, Kurtz was asked.

“No, this is it,” he replied. His wife Pat agreed.