The world's fastest Irishman

Robert Hogan in action in Virginia last weekend. Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell will readily admit that they are not the two fastest golfers on the planet. But while their deliberate rounds at last week’s Irish Open exasperated onlookers, there’s an Irish golfer out there who doesn’t hang around.

Dublin born PGA professional Robert Hogan, who currently coaches at Cregmore Park Golf Club in Co. Galway, can claim to be the fastest Irish golfer in world after he blazed his way to victory at the inaugural Eastern Speedgolf Open at Foundry Golf Club in Richmond, Virginia, last Sunday,

Speedgolf, a rapidly growing sport, is scored by adding the player’s number of shots to the total number of minutes taken to complete the round.

Robert Hogan sprints off the tee en route to seventh place in last year’s World Speedgolf at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. Hogan topped the leaderboard with 85 shots in an incredible 44 minute 58 second round - for a speedgolf score of 129.58 - winning the $10,000 first prize.

The event raised $130,000 for the First Tee Foundation in Richmond and attracted news coverage from NBC and the Golf Channel.

Players are entitled to carry the regulation 14 clubs but Hogan shot his 85 using just six.

At a time when golf’s major organisations are battling to encourage golfers to play faster - the While We’re Young campaign promoted by the USGA is a case in point - Speedgolf might just be the perfect reminder to club golfers everywhere to get a move on.