Footgolf is a game that works exactly like it sounds, delivering a combination of the beautiful game and the fairway for the discerning fan of both. Built from key components of both sports, its roots reportedly come from an idea from a Dutchman, Michael Jansen, who former footballer Willem Korsten inspired. The latter reportedly played a rudimentary variation during training sessions with Tottenham, inspiring the first tournament of the game to be held in 2008.
Rules:
Firstly, the golf ball is replaced by a regulation football, which must be deposited into a ‘footgolf cup’ while secondly, the club is replaced by the player’s foot. A single kick is the same as a stroke in golf, and similar rules apply in that the individual who takes the least amount of kicks to finish a hole, and the course, is the winner. Each hole has an average par of five, meaning a typical 18-hole course would be completed in at a par of 90, for example.
It comfortably shares more rules with golf than football on the whole, given that there is no opposing team to score past, no offside rules and no penalty kicks. The American Footgolf League also have rules on the attire too, namely that they should be adhered to the local golf course where the game is played, with many of the sport’s rounds taking place on existing greens.
Some General Rules:
The game is played with a Size 5 Soccer Ball, one ball per player. There are max of four players per group. Only runners or soft shoes may be worn while playing Footgolf. No Football Boots, Studs, Spikes or Golf Shoes are permitted. The ball is kicked from the teeing area(Yellow Markers) to the green – Indicated with White Flags, 1 – 18).
The player getting the ball into the hole in the fewest number of kicks is deemed to have won the hole. The player with the lowest score or who has won the most holes is deemed to be the winner. The starting kick can be made only from the ground, and the player may make a kick-off with both his left or right foot.
Kicks can only be made with these parts of the leg:
- internal side
- external side
- leg tip
- rolling with leg sole
- kicking with heel
Every contact with the ball counts as one kick.
A Mix of Golf and Football
Footgolf was made possible when a golf course in Fox hills invented this new game going by the name footgolf. The sport has caught the attention and is being practised across 32 states in the USA. The golf course remains the same, except the hole has been made more comprehensive, and footballs have replaced the small golf ball. While the rule of the golf remains the same, except one has to kick the ball instead of a golf stick to make sure that it enters the hole in minimum chances taken.
