Special Olympics Great Britain Athlete Leadership Team member Warren Clark has written his way into the Guinness World Records® books after completing an incredible 90-hole golfing challenge.
Twenty-five-year-old Warren, from North Baddesley near Southampton, set a new Guinness World Records title for the most holes of golf played in a day by an individual with a learning and physical disability.
Starting at 5am, Warren completed the challenge at Horsham Golf in West Sussex, supported by around 20 volunteerswho acted as witnesses, timekeepers, and scorers to ensure the record attempt complied fully with the rules of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club.
Despite meticulous planning, the day took an unexpected twist after Warren’s first round.
“Going into the record attempt, we were under the impression that I needed to complete 72 holes [four rounds of golf] to set the record,” said Warren. “However, my mum received a call from Guinness World Records in the morning, confirming it actually needed to be 90 holes!
“It was a tough call, but I knuckled down as we still had plenty of daylight to complete the fifth round. I’m really proud to have achieved this. I wanted to show that anybody can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.”
Warren’s story as a Special Olympics GB athlete is truly inspirational. Living with ADHD, autism, and an intellectual (learning) disability, he first picked up a golf club at the age of 10 and went on to win gold for Team Special Olympics GB at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
Together with his mum, Dawn, he later founded the charity Warren Clark Golfing Dreams, which delivers S.N.A.G. Golf (Starting New at Golf) and Tri-Golf sessions to disabled and disadvantaged individuals and groups. The organisation is now an accredited Special Olympics GB club, helping to change lives through golf.
“The hardest part came at the end of my fourth round,” added Warren. “As someone who lives with scoliosis, it really challenged me physically, and I needed a good break before starting the final 18 holes. However, I got through it!”
Looking ahead, Warren hasn’t ruled out the chance to rewrite the record books again.
It’s great that so many Special Olympics GB athletes have set and broken Guinness World Records titles in recent years. We’ve seen records in running, cycling and swimming, but not golf, so I’m proud to be the first to step forward.
“I’d love to see what else we can achieve in the sport and maybe even break my own record one day by completing 108 holes!”