This past Friday, UNC Finley Golf Course professional Frank Maynard played 126 consecutive holes — equal to seven full rounds — in order to raise money for a PGA of America initiative called Folds of Honor.
The initiative was started by former fighter pilot and lieutenant colonel Dan Rooney, who served on the Carolinas PGA Reach Committee just like Maynard. It aims to raise scholarship money for the children of military veterans.
Maynard originally planned to play 99 holes for the cause, but ultimately added another 27 holes to his total after finishing his 99th hole a little before 3 p.m.
His goal was to raise $10,000 for Folds of Honor, a number which Maynard said ended up closer to $15,000.
Maynard had recently learned that his father — who passed away last year after being a pharmacist for 50 years — was also a pharma-medic in the Korean War.
“We were presented a flag at the cemetery when he died and I got a little emotional about that,” Maynard said. “He just never spoke about being in the military. So being on the PGA Reach committee and what I just learned about my dad drove me to do a little more than what we already do with Patriot Golf weekend.”
Playing alongside UNC Athletics employee Aaron York, Finley Director of Golf Mike Wilkinson, Membership Director Tyler Currin and two-time Purple Heart recipient John Eades, Maynard began play at 5:25 a.m.
He played his last hole with Currin and Eades at 7:33 p.m. — completing his marathon day of golf after 14 hours and eight minutes on the course.
“My feet and hands were a little sore,” Maynard said afterwards. “When most golfers get tired their body stops turning and their hands take over. For most right-handed golfers like myself that becomes a left miss, so I had some left misses. I had to really get my body activated and move it out of the way of my swing. But I was kind of surprised that I was still feeling pretty good. A little lethargic on the last 18 holes, but I still felt good.”
Photo via UNC Athletics
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