Crazy golf: how a hobby became an obsession for 'Nuts'

Golfers who have gone over to the dark side can be dangerously proud of the fact. They show up for work casually dressed, telling colleagues they will be "out on a course" for the afternoon. They brag to friends about playing in horizontal rain on a Scottish links and go home to watch endless reruns of 1960s games on the Golf Channel.

The truly addicted have the option of being buried in a golf-themed casket, which they can buy in advance online, with "Fairway to Heaven" painted on a golf course scene along the side.

They should also know that they are not alone. The Golf Nut Society, ( www.golfnuts.com) celebrates instances of obsessive-compulsive behaviour that would otherwise seem disturbing.

The most famous Golf Nut is the former basketball player Michael Jordan, who earned the title in 1989 and whose Nut number is 0023. He didn't bother to show up when he won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the first time because he was on North Carolina's Pinehurst course playing two rounds, back to back. On his way to the Golf Nut title, Jordan had racked up points by challenging Mickey Mouse to a putting contest at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He won more for having "Registered Golf Nut" frames around the number plates on his Ferrari, but fellow Nuts agree that his finest moment was blowing off his Most Valuable Player trophy.

He has revealed his golfing addiction in other ways. In the final between the Chicago Bulls and the Suns he sneaked off to play 36 holes before and after team practice. He hid inside a linen truck to make good his escape from the team hotel. In 2006, the "Golf Nut of the Year" was Steve Thorwald, who played golf with his future father-in-law on his wedding day and then played 36 holes on each of the first three days of his honeymoon. The marriage didn't last. But he went on to marry another "certifiable Nut".

Jim Malone decided to go for the title after undergoing cancer surgery. On a recuperative trip to Florida, he "tried to hit a few nine-irons," but grew concerned because "the surgical area pulled a bit".

Urged on by his friend, Paul Lieberman of the Los Angeles Times, he soon became Golf Nut Society member No 4122. His closest challenger in the contest was was Bob Fagan, whose "Nut CV" included "Played 6 different 18-hole courses in 114-degree heat in Palm Springs in July in a single day"; "Owns 319 golf caps"; and "Achieved the 'Golf Nut Slam' by playing on Easter, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spouse's Birthday, plus Anniversary in a single year."

Golf addicts who risk their health, jobs or marriage score heavily in the competition.

Back in 2001, the Golf Nut of the Year was awarded to the Irishman Ivan Morris, who arranged for his pregnant wife to be induced so that he could play in a tournament, which he won. They celebrated at the "19th" by dunking their newborn son inside the trophy.

The first Golf Nut award went to Joe Malay, who quit his job in 1986 to play in 53 tournaments. Work "would have a negative effect on his golf," said Ron Garland, the founder of the Golf Nut Society. As Head Nut, Mr Garland had sole authority to award points to the society's 4,000 worldwide members. A former amateur champion, he ran the club from his home, the "Nut House". For years he relied on word of mouth and press clippings to attract members. Last year, he decided to sell the club so that he himself could compete.

This year's award went to Leo Gispanski, member 4195, who received 28,743 points upon joining for his lifetime of achievement. This included caddying at 11, almost birdieing an infamous three holes at Augusta National. There was more: he had promised his wife a holiday in Hawaii, but cancelled to take part in a pro-am in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Furthermore, he made a pilgrimage to Florida to seek an audience with Arnold Palmer and play a few rounds.

Another "certified Nut", Scott Houston, walked out of his executive job in Monterey to become a caddie at the famed Pebble Beach. He caddies for Palmer when he visits and on their their first round he lovingly scooped up one of Palmer's divots, brought it home in his pocket, planted it in a flower pot and kept it alive for five years until it withered and died. He would take the patch of grass, which he called "little Arnold", to the driving range and put the pot on a bench while hitting balls.

There are locker-room stories of golfers who used a crowbar to pry open the trunk of a car after locking the keys and clubs inside. One Nut even claims his son was conceived on a course.

In another case, an angry Spanish golfer threw his clubs into the lake, only to remember, too late, that his car keys were in the bag. He fetched his bag, took out the keys and threw the clubs away again.

The top Nut may, however, be Wendi Keene Arizona, the only woman to be named Golf Nut of the Year. She learned golf at the age of 38, installed an indoor driving range, videotaped her swing and compulsively practised for months before she even walked on to a course. For the first seven years she was right-handed and then changed sides – and clubs, of course.

Golf Nuts of the Year

1999: Nobby Orens, from Encino, California

Made history when he played 18 holes in London, New York and Los Angeles on the same day, earning a Guinness World Record.

1995: Brad Bastow, South Haven, Michigan

Bought a $36,000 golf simulator for his home, hired a live-in golf professional during the winter and made bi-weekly trips to Florida, playing at least 36 holes each day. His handicap didn't change.

1992: Merle Ball, Sebring, Florida

Played in all 50 states in 1988 right-handed, then did it left-handed in 1989in just 51 days. In 1990, he played 110 holes right-handed and 110 left-handed in one day.

1988: David Mikkelson, Seattle

Averaged 449 rounds of golf per year over a six-year period and once played 56 rounds in a month, all in his rainy home town.

1986: Joe Malay, Weiser, Idaho

The first Nut of the Year had a flat tyre on his car and also had a flat spare, so he put on his spikes, grabbed his clubs, hitchhiked to the nearest town and hired a crop duster to fly him to a tournament 85 miles away.

Information: golfnuts.com