MEDINA, Ohio — One northeast Ohio golfer is taking his sport to the extreme to raise funds for area non-profits. 

Pat Spoerndle is known for taking big swings.

“No time to take practice swings,” he said. “Hit and go.”

Spoerndle is 65 and has been golfing since he was in his 20s.

“Used to play a lot of basketball and softball, but as my body started telling me it’s time for another sport, golf became my route for going out and being competitive,” Spoerndle said.

During a particular round of golf, he wasn’t worried about his handicap. It’s just all about the speed. 

“We always make sure to borrow carts from people in Fox Meadow that go extra fast,” he said. “Cause that way in between shots we can get there quicker.”

That’s because he was cramming about five games into one by hitting 100 holes in a row for hospice. 

“’Cause I’m a little bit crazy,” he said. “'Cause I’ve always had a passion for what hospice does.”

When he started his fundraising crusade, he said he was just helping a good cause.

“Now, sadly since that time I have had four family members that have required end-of-life hospice services,” he said. “And all that did for me was just reinforce what I’ve done and what I want to continue to do with this.”

It is the 13th year he’s driven down the fairways of Fox Meadow Country Club in Medina for his unusual event. His home course donates the grounds and allows him to hit ball after ball to raise funds for the cause. 

“So, 100% of the money we raise goes to Hospice of the Western Reserve/Hospice of Medina County,” he said. “And because of the way we do it, people’s donations are 100% tax-deductible. So that 100 kind of runs through the whole thing.”

To date, Spoerndle has collected more than $400,000 in donations. 

“It’s the generosity of people,” he said. “It’s how kind they can be.”

This year’s game was a little soggier than usual after rain fell on the course overnight. 

“It’s harder,” said Spoerndle. “The club tends to get caught up in the grass.”

But his lifelong golfing buddies were there to help, serving as caddies. 

“They tee up the ball on the next hole, they give me my yardages after my tee shots,” he said. 

That all helps to keep the game going. 

“With this, the fact that we’re able to play fast, keep moving, that helps,” Spoerndle said. “And the rest of it is just adrenaline. It’s amazing how far it carries you.”

It’s a game plan he hopes to continue for years to come. 

“I have pledged as long as my body will allow me to do this, I’ll keep doing it,” he said.