A bet is a bet. Sebastian Steinzen, 34, of Germany spent five years trying to track down Patrick Burns of England to repay the pint wagered in a golf bet.

The two met in Majorca in 2005 while both were on a 10-day vacation. They played a round of golf, bet a pint and Steinzen lost.

Steinzen never got to buy Burns the wagered pint and it weighed on his mind for years. In July, Steinzen spent £1,000 (US$1,648) to travel to Britain and track down Burns, and to finally pay off the debt that had been festering in his mind.

Steinzen traveled to Portishead, where Burns had mentioned he was from, and spent several days walking the streets, looking in pubs and roaming golf courses with a picture of his friend in attempts to find him.

Before Steinzen returned home, his quest still unfulfilled, The Daily Telegraph picked up the story. Burns, a 73-year-old retired advertising executive read it and contacted Steinzen. The debt will be repaid next month in Burns' local pub, the Black Horse.