They don’t call Scottsdale resident Bob Kurtz Golf Ironman for nothing.
In 2021, he celebrated his 80th birthday at Scottsdale TopGolf, where he hit more than 1,000 drives in less than 12 hours.
Now three years older, the Ironman will again show why he’s earned that title on Monday, May 19, when he will play a Hero100 Double Marathon for families of fallen heroes.
The 83-year-old marathoner will play 100 holes of golf right-handed and 100 holes of golf left-handed from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale. Later this weeek, he turns 84.
Kurtz is hoping people will root him on by making a contribution to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.
The organization has provided $250 million in scholarships since 2007.
Contributions from this event will benefit local spouses and children through the local Folds of Honor chapter.
Kurtz holds multiple Guinness World Record titles, including the Ironman title.
He achieved his seventh world record in marathon golf in 2011, when he completed an impressive 1,850 holes – a whopping 102 rounds in one week at a course in Alabama, a feat recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
That number calculates at 14-1/2 rounds of 18 holes a day. He was 70 years old at the time. He is proud also that during his 70th year, he shot his age seven times in one day. He played 10 rounds that day, with the best round of 67.
A former sportscaster and part of CNN’s first sports broadcasting team, Kurtz began his pursuit of world records while pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church in Cullman, Alabama.
He has not slowed down in his 80’s and his passion for helping vulnerable children and their families has only grown through his 501c3 tax-exempt charity, Ministries to Children.”
Anyone interested in supporting this unique fundraising effort can contribute online at golfsironman.com.
Kurtz will receive contributions for Folds of Honor through Ministries to Children, Inc, a qualifying charitable organization (QCO) in the state of Arizona.
When he marked his 80th birthday, Kurtz raised $20,000 from sponsors and individual donors to benefit the Mesa-based nonprofit, A New Leaf, which provides homes and essential items for homeless families and veterans in the Valley.
“I get double pleasure out of it: the pleasure out of doing something that’s extraordinarily difficult that a much younger man can’t do, and the true pleasure of doing something for a charity,” Kurtz said.
Each drive he hit four years ago to benefit that charity had to travel at least 200 yards and stay within a 40-yard grid. It came as no surprise that he exceeded the goal with 1,115 drives.
“It was a long day as Bob started the record attempt at 10 a.m. He took very few breaks because he wanted to keep momentum going, so his pace was faster than anticipated,” recalled Joe Dulin, Chief Philanthropy Officer for A New Leaf. “Bob hit his 1,000 drive around 8:30 p.m. and we cheered his success.”
Raising money for a charity as part of his world record attempts is something Kurtz started in 2006, when he played his first marathon, playing 168 holes in a row and averaging 18 holes in less than one hour.
His other world records include most times for a golfer to score their age or below in 24 hours; 500 consecutive holes without rest or sleep, which he accomplished in 39 hours; most holes played in one week, 1,850; completing 72 holes of golf in three hours and five minutes; and completing a round of golf in 39 minutes, shooting a 71.
“There’s no better feeling than to accomplish something of significance, but then to have it have a significant outcome,” Kurtz said.
“People say age is just a state of mind,” Kurtz said in 2021. “I’m 80 years old, and I’m doing things that a 30-year-old can’t do. And that’s very satisfying.”
To donate: golfsironman.com.