-ANTALAYA
England broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest hole of golf ever recorded at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ian Poulter and Matthew Southgate made up the team that set the new world record, narrowly beating a South Africa line-up, that also beat the previous best time held by France.
The French set the world record when their four-man relay team completed a 500-yard hole – the minimum length hole for a world record attempt – in 34.87 seconds in Spain last year.
While France failed to push their two opponents this time around, it was clear that both England and South Africa had gone close on the 15th hole at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort.
Following an anxious wait, it was announced that England were the team that had broken the record with a time of 32.7 seconds beating South Africa’s 32.9 seconds.
After Hatton hit the tee shot, Fitzpatrick played the approach shot, Poulter hit it close and Southgate tapped in to set the new world record.
Fitzpatrick said: “It was a lot of fun taking part in the attempt but to actually come away with a world record and have our names in the history books is something to be proud of.
“It’s a great thing for the Turkish Airlines Open and hopefully we can keep the record for a long time.”
George Coetzee from the South Africa team said: “It was so close and we hope that we get another chance at the record next year.”
Turkish Airlines’ Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Seda Kalyoncu, said: “We are very proud that the Turkey and the Turkish Airlines Open was the location for this record.
“Hopefully it will stand until next year and we can have another attempt at improving it. It was an exciting part of what we are certain will be another incredible week in Antalya.”
The record attempt was the start of a packed week at the Turkish Airlines Open, the third last tournament on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai with 78 players competing for a $7 million prize fund.
Turkish Airlines – an airline that flies to more countries than any other airline in the world – supports golf at every level and also backs a Challenge Tour tournament, the world’s biggest corporate amateur tournament, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, and allows passengers to travel with clubs for free.
About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline today with a fleet of 329 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 300 destinations worldwide with 251 international and 49 domestic. According to the 2017 Skytrax survey, Turkish Airlines, already having a six consecutive years of “Best Airline in Europe” award between 2011-2016, now chosen as the “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the ninth consecutive times. Having won the “Best Economy Class Onboard Catering” award in 2010, Turkish Airlines also awarded as the World’s “Best Business Class Onboard Catering” in 2013, 2014 and 2016, and 2017. Winning the “World’s Best Business Class Lounge” award in 2015 and 2017, the global carrier also picked up the World’s “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” award for the third consecutive years according to this year’s survey results.
About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,450 daily flights to 1,300 airports in 190 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines.
