FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The World's First Golf and Marathon Running Competition
Isle of Islay, Scotland - If a golfer is fit enough to complete a marathon
(26.2 miles) in less than six hours and if a marathon runner has above
average golf skills, then the first annual Lords of the Isles Challenge
bids him or her a warm welcome.
Inspired partly by English poet Jenny Joseph's Warning, the challenge takes
place on Scotland's romantic, remote, and beautiful island of Islay on the
weekend of April 11-13, 2014. The golf part includes a practice round on
Friday and the 18-hole Queen of the Hebrides Open on Saturday, while the
marathon around Islay's shimmering Loch Indaal is scheduled for Sunday.
No worry about crowds or traffic jams; the marathon field is limited to 50
and 12 of those places are reserved for those competing in both the golf
and the marathon. Currently 10 places remain open for the golf, which is
held on the highly regarded Machrie links, a course that meanders through
magnificent duneland and requires many blind shots. The event is limited
strictly to amateurs and, even though it would be great to have Phil, Rory,
and Tiger, they'll be playing on the manicured fairways of Augusta National
that weekend.
At first, the idea of combining a golf tournament and a marathon may appear
ridiculous. But considering the career of the great American amateur Frank
Stranahan (who won over 50 amateur titles, including two British Amateurs),
this idea may not be too farfetched. When Stranahan retired from
competitive golf in 1964, he began running marathons and completed over
100, including New York and Boston. And one further note: behold the new
sport of speedgolf - where score and time are combined. At the 2013
Speedgolf World Championships in Bandon Dunes, Ireland's Rob Hogan won the
pro division with an average time of 40 minutes per round.
This event benefits the children of the island. Both the Islay Youth Pipers
and the students of Islay High School will receive funds from the race. The
students will use the money for a trip in 2015 to aid a developing country.
So, the challenge has been issued and the question remains: Are there
enough golfers to rise to this test of golf and fitness and fill the 10
remaining slots? After all, golf will be an Olympic sport soon. The answer
to this question will be revealed in April. For more information or to
register, visit www.lordsoftheisles.com.
###
|
