Michael Smith is playing 450 holes of golf in South Australia this week in a world record attempt, while raising money for charity.

The Adelaide golf enthusiast has set out to play five rounds of golf each day for five days, in the Riverland region.

The 450 holes will involve about 150km of walking and 2,255 swings of the golf stick — if his body holds up.

"My left knee clogged up last night and it won't let me move as freely as I want. The painkillers haven't really affected it too much," Mr Smith said.

He was on the fifth hole of the Barmera Golf Course on Wednesday afternoon after already completing three 18-hole rounds that day.

The golfing marathon has been a strong motivator for Mr Smith to work on his health and fitness over the past nine months, and he was confident that, despite the sore knee, he would secure the world record.

"Physically I feel fine, which is good because I've done a hell of a lot of training for it," he said.

"Up hill, down dale, a lot of distance running, and looking after myself with diet and no alcohol, trying to act as professionally as I can."

The record for the most golf played in five days is held by British army captain Stuart Ball, who played 432 holes.

Michael Smith tees off at the fifth hole of the Barmera Golf Course on Wednesday. ( ABC Riverland: Catherine Heuzenroeder )

A golf club official has accompanied Mr Smith on each day of his world record attempt.

Mr Smith must walk the course while his support team travels the course in a buggy and keeps him supplied with water and food.

"My wife has been very supportive in making me sandwiches, running them out to me and just keeping me going," Mr Smith said.

He has been teeing off at 6am and playing each round in about two hours and 20 minutes.

His scorecard has been respectable and, even battling a dodgy knee, he ranged from 85 to 96 on the par 72 Barmera course on Wednesday.

Raising money for kids' charity

As part of his world record attempt Mr Smith has been raising money for charity KickStart for Kids, which aims to boost education and self-esteem among South Australian school children by providing breakfast, lunch and mentoring programs.

About $10,000 has been raised already.

"A lot of people that you meet along the way on golf courses, their first question is 'Why?' and their first comment would be 'You mad bugger'," Mr Smith said.

"But when they realise what your charity is for, they soon realise you're doing it for a good cause.

"Having not missed a meal in my life, like a lot of other people, we couldn't imagine what it could be like, and Kickstart for Kids is an excellent charity."

Mr Smith played at Renmark on Monday, Berri on Tuesday, Barmera on Wednesday, Loxton on Thursday and will return to Barmera on Friday.

The Barmera Golf Club will host a fundraising dinner on Friday night featuring Mr Smith and former Adelaide Crows player Wayne Weidermann.

Mr Smith said the Riverland clubs had been extremely supportive.

"Logistically this record could not be done in the city, there are too many people down there, but the Riverland was a very good choice and very hospitable," Mr Smith, who was born in Renmark, said.