Roslyn’s Alex Freeman putts into 2020 Guinness Book of World Records

Teri West
Alex Freeman, a rising senior at Roslyn High School, will be in the 2020 Guinness Book of World Records. (Photo courtesy of Eric Freeman)

Roslyn teenager Alex Freeman wanted to set a world record, but the challenge he settled on, making the most putts in an hour, had never been recorded. 

So Guinness World Records tailored one for him: if he made more than 400 putts in an hour from a distance of 15 feet, he would make it into the book. After exceeding the challenge by 592 holes, Freeman’s name will be in the 2020 book for making 992 putts.

He is not the only Freeman from Roslyn to set a golf world record at Glen Head Country Club. His father, Eric Freeman, twice set the record there in the 1990s for playing the most golf holes in 12 hours.

Both Freemans also used their world record events as fundraisers. The younger Freeman raised more than $12,000 for the Police Department, a fire department and the United Jewish Appeal Federation by having friends and family pledge a certain amount per hole.

“I was really exhausted after it and I was just proud of myself that I was able to do it and made money for charity at the same time,” Alex Freeman, 17, said.

Preparation included practice every day for an hour, he said, and 20 people witnessed the event last year on Sept. 2, he said.

“People sponsored him, you know, 50 cents, 25 cents even some a dollar a hole, unfortunately not realizing how many he’d be able to complete,” his father said. “At one point he made 25 putts in a row from 15 feet and he was putting about 50 putts every minute.”

Alex Freeman plays for the varsity golf team at Roslyn High School. He’s been at the sport since age 5 but said he really got into it about three years ago.

The best part about it is the challenge, he said.

Eric Freeman, who also attended Roslyn High School, set his first record in 1991. After it was broken in 1994 he set it again in 1997.

“Growing up I had always looked in the Guinness Book and found it fascinating,” he said.

Alex Freeman said his father’s records inspired him.

“It’s very special that I know that no one has broken my record yet,” he said. “I hope that it continues to not be broken.”

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