Running News Daily

Missouri man goes viral for finishing golf round during XC race

A Missouri golfer became an Internet sensation after attempting to finish his round of golf in the middle of a high school cross-country race last week in Ava, Mo.

A video shared on the Instagram page @FlashyAverage, captioned, “When you’re on [hole] 18, about to break 100, but there’s a cross country race going on,” has already amassed more than three million views. And it’s easy to see why.

The video shows the male golfer casually continuing his game at the Ava Country Club, while a stampede of high school runners zoom past him. The best part? He apparently had no idea the race was happening! According to Ava Country Club management, the male golfer is a long-time member of the club, and he missed the memo about the Ava High School Cross Country meet happening on Sept. 24. Undeterred, he decided to finish his round.

The video shows the golfer rushing his approach shot on the ninth hole, likely feeling the pressure from the runners whizzing by. Unfortunately, his rushed attempt only sent the ball a few metres forward, leading to a second attempt while athletes raced past him. And in a follow-up video, he’s seen sitting on the green, seemingly having thrown in the towel on his game, opting instead to spectate the race.

Ava Country Club management confirmed they had sent an email to all members about the race several days in advance (and even posted on social media), but it seems this particular golfer didn’t get it. According to club management, he’s a regular at the club, known to play every day at the same time, rain or shine.“Are you more likely to get hurt running or playing golf?” — Canadian Running Magazine

For those curious, Ava Country Club is a private nine-hole course with an annual membership fee of USD $820.

The bizarre collision between the two sports has sparked a lively debate in the comment section, with viewers split on whether the golfer should have been allowed to finish his round. “Did anyone else pay to be there?” one commenter asked, defending the golfer’s right to continue playing. Another chimed in, “Why can’t the runners just go around him?” suggesting that the runners should have accommodated the golfer’s game. The mix of opinions reflects the unusual nature of the situation; either way, it was entertaining to watch it unfold.