Fans of FootGolf, a mix of soccer and golf, can look forward to an international competitive spectacular this summer, with three major events sponsored by Walt Disney World Golf. The United States FootGolf Open, Jansen Cup, and Pacific Trophy will all be held at Disney’s Palm Golf Course in early summer 2022.
“We are proud to be hosting one of the American FootGolf League’s Major events and equally pleased to welcome international teams from the United Kingdom and Japan this summer,” said Bruce Gerlander, General Manager of Walt Disney World Golf operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management (APGM).
“It’s been a distinct pleasure for us to have played a leading role in supporting this relatively new and growing sport.”
The Pacific Trophy, which will pit a squad of American FootGolf League All-Stars against Team Japan on Disney’s Palm Golf Course on May 26, will kick off this worldwide FootGolf spectacular.
This event has only been played once before, in 2016 at the American FootGolf League’s home course, the Desert Willow Resort in Palm Desert, California.
The American FootGolf League’s U.S. FootGolf Open, which will be held May 27-29, is projected to attract up to 200 of the world’s finest players, both men and women, who will compete for cash rewards over three rounds of 18 holes in a stroke play format.
From 2014 to 2016, the event was known as the US FootGolf Pro-Am before being renamed as a completely professional competition and became the US FootGolf Championship.
“We are thrilled to unite many of the world’s best professional players at Walt Disney World Golf’s magnificent facilities”, said Laura Balestrini, CEO of the American FootGolf League. “Our sport made its debut here on Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course in 2018, and it continues to grow in popularity nationally and around the globe.”
The biennial Jansen Cup, a Ryder Cup-style game played by 28-player teams from the United States and the United Kingdom, will be held from May 30 to June 1. The event will be held for the third time, after being held in 2017 at the Desert Willow Resort and again in 2019 at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.
“Our FootGolf offering has served as a gateway to our facilities,” said Alex Forsyth, Director of Sales and Marketing for Walt Disney World Golf operated by APGM.
“We’ve seen families and amateur players regularly visit Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course to play FootGolf, and now they can come watch the world’s best.”
In recent years, FootGolf has grown in popularity and resort visitors can get their kicks playing FootGolf with a soccer ball on Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course in the late afternoons on select days. Players are provided a soccer ball for their use at no additional cost.
