Superior National at Lutsen golf pro Heath Ekstrom didn’t spend much time between swings on Sunday, September 11. Ekstrom completed 122 holes of golf on Sunday, about 86 more holes than he had ever played in one day before his marathon fundraiser effort for the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Superior National at Lutsen golf pro Heath Ekstrom managed to play 122 holes of golf on September 11 and raised about $3,500. “Or close to it,” said Ekstrom the next day, “I’m still tallying up the donations.”
This was Ekstrom’s first time to participate in Patriot Golf Day, a nationwide fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships for spouses and children of military members who have been disabled or killed while serving the country.
“I’m a little sore, a few things ache and my back is a little bit tight, but otherwise I’m okay,” Ekstrom said on Monday, September 12.
“I couldn’t have done this without my wife Leah’s help. She caddied for me, raked out the sand traps and fixed my ball marks. She also got me food and kept me fed. I started at 6:20 a.m. and played until 8 p.m.,” he said.
When asked if he would attempt this marathon golfing feat again next year, Ekstrom was quick to reply.
“Yes, I’m planning to do it again next year. I would like to make this an annual challenge for myself and I would like to make this into a tournament for the public and invite veterans and their families to play,” he said.
When asked if he had any great shots out on the course he laughed and replied, “Well, I put the ball about one foot away on my drive on a short par 4. It would have been nice if it had went in, but that was my best shot of the day.”
Ekstrom dedicated his play to George Nelson Jr., who gifted the land to Cook County on which Superior National at Lutsen stands. “George was a World War II veteran and a 10th Mountain Division specialist. I have wanted to honor him for what he has done for this golf course and for our community and this seemed like the perfect tribute.
“I also want to make it clear that I am just playing golf. There are people right now that are fighting for our freedoms. People putting their lives on the line for us. This is a just a small way of honoring them. What they do for us is so much more important than what I have done. I hope people understand that.”
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