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Golfer Goes On Incredible 50-Mile Journey To Play 18 Holes On 18 Courses Across Scotland In One Day

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Jamie Kennedy is a director of content and social media for Golf Digest.

On Tuesday, Kennedy set out with a remarkable challenge that doubles at a golf fan’s holy grail: play 18 holes from 18 different courses in a 50-mile radius on the east coast of Scotland.

Kennedy played the holes in order, starting with hole No. 1 at course No. 1 and ending with hole No. 18 at course No. 18.

The purpose of challenge was to raise money for the Stephen Gallacher Foundation. The foundation provides golf events, education and equipment to kids across Scotland.

He began his challenge at 5:30 a.m. local at Old Musselburgh Links on the 240-yard, par 3 first hole.

The 9-hole course was previously documented as the oldest in the world. It dates back to the 17th century and is contained within a horse racing track. Additionally, it served as an original British Open venue, hosting the competition on six occasions between 1874 and 1889.

From there, Kennedy took to the roads.

He made par on his next two holes at The Musselburgh Golf Club and Royal Musselburgh. Kennedy’s round then kicked into high gear with a birdie on the par 3 fourth hole at Longniddry, before saving par at 290-yard par 4 fifth at Kilspindie.

After a bogey, another birdie, and two pars, Kennedy made his metaphorical “turn” at even par, having covered 19.5 miles and played nine courses.

Kennedy tapped in for par on the 466-yard brute of a par four 10th hole at Gullane No. 1. He then headed to get another legendary course, Muirfield. The near-280-year-old course has hosted the British Open 16 times, with Phil Mickelson winning there most recently in 2013.

Kennedy made par on the 360-yard, par 4 11th hole.

He remained rock steady with pars at the par 4 12th hole at The Club Renaissance (which has hosted the Scottish Open since 2019) and the par 4 13th hole at Archerfield Dirleton.

A three-putt at the par 4 14th hole at Archerfield Fidra set Kennedy back a shot.

But a fantastic par save at the par 3 15th hole at North Berwick got him back on track. He then made par at yet another par 3, the 190-yard 16th hole at The Glen Golf Club in East Lothian.

Kennedy wrapped his round with two more pars. The first came at the 490-yard, par 5 17th at Winterfield. And the final came at the 430-yard, par 4 closing hole at Dunbar.

In total, he covered 47.9 miles and took nearly 90,000 steps over 18 holes at 18 different courses. He made 14 pars, two birdies and two bogeys to finish with an even par 66.

The entire feat took him 17 hours and 19 minutes.

Who knows whether Kennedy will ever play golf again. But if he doesn’t, he finished on one heck of a high note.