He Played 580 Courses in 1-Year!
Patrick Koenig joins us to talk about setting the world record by playing 580 different golf courses in a single year, how he quit his software sales job to buy an RV and chase a dream, and what it's like building a career as a golf course photographer.
- Guest
- Patrick Koenig
- Destination
- 580 golf courses across 41 US states
- Location
- USA
The Setup
This week we’re joined by Patrick Koenig — a former software salesman turned golf course photographer who set the world record by playing 580 different 18-hole golf courses in a single calendar year. Patrick tells us how he went from a comfortable corporate gig to living in an RV, driving across 41 states, and turning his passion for golf photography into a full-time career.
The Format
This is a guest interview episode. Instead of a single trip recap, Patrick walks us through the logistics of his record-breaking year, how he plans a cross-country golf route, the courses that surprised him most, and what it takes to shoot world-class golf course photography.
The Hot Takes
- 580 courses in one year — 36 holes was a normal day, 54 happened often, and he once played 72 holes in a single day
- He quit his job with no plan — just bought an RV and hoped golf photography would work out
- Wisconsin and Michigan are public golf gems — great states for accessible, high-quality public courses
- He almost broke the world record accidentally in 2018 before officially going for it in 2023
- Three to four days per course for a professional photo shoot, chasing golden-hour light
The Run-It-Back
Patrick’s story is part inspiration, part logistics masterclass. The idea of dropping everything to chase a golf dream sounds crazy — until you hear him explain how methodical the planning actually was. From weather-mapping his route to filling his schedule via course requests on his website, he treated the world record like a business. For anyone who’s ever thought about turning a golf side-hustle into something real, Patrick’s journey is proof that passion plus execution can get you there.
Find Patrick at pjkoenig.com and tell him Sick Golf Trips sent you.