Sent in the Golfletter2026-05-21

You are reading a past issue. This newsletter introduces three uniquely challenging and entertaining golf variations, including the String Game, Cross-Country Golf, and the One Club Challenge. It highlights how these formats offer a fresh and fun perspective on the traditional game, encouraging golfers to explore new ways to play.

3 Crazy Ways to Play Golf: String Game, Cross-Country & More

Written byDani Salmerón

I had no idea there were so many ways to play golf. Maybe you’ll enjoy the 3 craziest ones I’ve discovered:

1.- String Game: golf with rope and scissors

You’re given an advantage in the form of a rope whose length depends on your handicap. Got a terrible lie? Measure the distance to a better spot with the rope and cut it there. You can even use it to hole a putt, for example…

Until, snip by snip, you run out of rope.(And out of advantages.)

2.- Cross-Country Golf

This one is absolutely insane. They invent a course layout that has nothing to do with the actual hole order. For example, the Longest Hole competition at Umkomaas Golf Club in South Africa.

Apparently, it was invented by a bunch of guys coming back from a New Year’s party while helping clean up the club. Players choose their own route, passing through places like the halfway house, the 9th green, trees, the 12th fairway, the 14th hole, the 2nd, a road… and finally the 18th.

The Longest Hole record is 11 strokes. Achieved several times.

3.- One Club Challenge: one single club for everything

You either choose — or get assigned — one club for the entire round. Tee shot, second shot, approach, bunker if needed… and putting too. If you pick a 7-iron, you putt with a 7-iron.

If you get a putter… prepare for a very long afternoon.

Now guess which club Tommy Fleetwood got during the One Club Challenge at Emirates Golf Club in 2021, played on the 389-yard par-4 8th hole:

A putter.

He had to withdraw.

If all this sounds fun to you, we’ve launched a new “Formats” section on the LAZAR website, with slightly more serious stuff.

But not less fun!

Happy weekend, golfer!

P.S. You know the drill — swing hard (bot not too much), and if you’re in doubt, pull out your phone and fire away with LAZAR.

D

Dani Salmerón

Creator of Lazar AI and golf enthusiast. Analyzing rules and strategy to make the game easier.

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