IT takes a certain type of person to play, and often endure, this Royal & Ancient game. “Golfers have a tendency to be very masochistic,” conceded the great Jack Nicklaus. Goodness knows what you’d call Adam Rolston and Ron Rutland then?

If you’re thrashing and gouging away in the rough or performing some archaeological dig in a bunker during the Autumn medal this afternoon, then spare a thought for this intrepid golfing duo.

At the Mount Bogd Golf Club in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar today, Rolston and Rutland are set to complete what has been dubbed ‘The Longest Hole’ when they finish off an epic hike that has lasted some 82 days, covered almost 2000 km and has featured around 15,000 shots.

It sounds like this correspondent’s pitiful efforts during a wayward batter about on the links to be honest.

Their record attempt, which is raising money for the Laureus Sport for Good charity, began in June and will conclude with Rolston holing out on the 18th green of Mongolia’s only course.

Knowing the infuriatingly fickle nature of this mind-mangling game, he’ll probably three-putt.

“We’ve taken a putter the whole way just to finish off at that one moment, it’s a bit of useless kit we’ve carried for 82 days,” said Rolston. Most club golfers will can empathise with that statement.

Rolston, a scratch golfer from Northern Ireland, has been averaging the equivalent of five rounds each day as the pair traipse across Mongolia’s vast and varied terrain.

South African Rutland, meanwhile, has been heaving a 100kg cart of equipment, including food, water, camping gear and a hefty supply of some 400 golf balls.

The duo have marched in the searing heat of the Gobi Desert, trudged along in the freezing temperatures of the country’s valleys and have hauled themselves through bogs, over sparse plains, across rivers and up mountains on the kind of daunting trek that would’ve had Hannibal turning to his legions and saying ‘sod this boys’ we’ll just head back’.

All the while, Rolston has been clattering a little ba’ down some of the most challenging fairways you’re ever likely to encounter with Rutland performing the role of caddie.

Presumably at the start this heroic voyage, Rutland gazed at a strokesaver and said to Rolston, “right, you’ve got about 1,850km to the front edge”.

It’s been quite a journey. “One of the most incredible things about this expedition has been the welcome of the people of Mongolia,” said Rolston.

“They’ve fed us, laughed at us, opened their homes and played golf with us. The people we meet have no idea what golf is or where in the world we come from but as soon as they see a golf club and ball they’re intrigued.

“Everyone’s eyes seem to light up when you drop a white ball. They’re super curious.

“It’s been amazing to see how the sport of golf can transcend languages and cultures. Mongolian’s love golf, they just don’t know it yet.”

Rutland is used to sizeable feats of endurance. He once cycled unsupported from his native South Africa to England and this latest escapade is giving this self-confessed adventure junkie his required fix.

The pair have even picked up an intrigued colleague along the way in the shape of a stray dog which they have nicknamed UB after their final destination of Ulaanbaatar.

“We’ve had our challenges but that is exactly what adventure is all about,” said Rutland. “It’s been an incredible experience which proves that in 80 days, you can do pretty much anything you set your mind to.”

We’re not quite sure what the par of this unique course will be but let’s hope the bold Rolston stands over a six-footer today and utters the immortal lines, “well, this to break 15,000”.