A mixture of golf and football

In our latest in depth guide we explore just about everything you need to know about Foot Golf

One of the most exciting new sports taking hold all over the world, foot golf has exploded in popularity and given athletes the world over the opportunity to try out a new sport on the links in a way that is bringing younger and younger sports enthusiasts to country clubs all over the world.

While not exactly the same sport that golf traditionalists have fallen in love with, the USGA, the PGA, and other international golf associations have really been encouraging local golf courses, municipal courses, and even private clubs to get into the swing of things when it comes to foot golf.

Played with a soccer ball and no golf clubs (as well as an oversize cup), this is a unique game that is suited to athletes of all ages and ability. To learn a little bit more about everything that foot golf brings to the table check out the inside information we have two share with you below.

What exactly is foot golf, anyway?

The best way to think about foot golf is to understand it to be a bit of a hybrid between traditional golf played out on courses all over the world and the game of soccer, quite possibly the most popular sport on the planet.

Athletes that play foot golf are going to have to set up in a tee box area, kick a soccer ball all over the golf course, all with the intention of getting this soccer ball into and oversize hole (21 inches in diameter) with the fewest amount of kicks possible.

More and more golf courses around the world are adding these extra over-sized holes in waste and hazard areas of their traditional course, giving both traditional golfers and foot golf athletes the opportunity to play on the same stretch of land.

Check out this Foot Golf Video

How long has foot golf been around?

Even though it is impossible to really peg down exactly when foot golf was invented and by whom, the truth of the matter is most people agree that 2009 is when the first official rules were really written down and when the first official competitive game was played in the Netherlands.

Since then the game has caught wildfire and is currently played in more than 30 countries all over the world with millions and millions of people diving headfirst into everything that foot golf has to offer.

But because this sport is so brand-new we are seeing the growing pains that all new sports go through. Brand-new rules are being added to the rule book, athletes are redefining the best strategies for winning, and the general public is starting to get into this game in larger and larger numbers.

How has foot golf become so popular so quickly?

With millions and millions of athletes playing foot golf all over the world it’s a little bit of a challenge for more traditional golfers to understand exactly how this game has gone on to become as popular as it already is.

For starters, the game of golf is shrinking from the heyday of the Tiger Woods era with fewer and fewer players purchasing equipment, spending time out at the course, and dropping large amounts of cash for private club memberships.

Many of those athletes miss getting out on the links with their friends, and many of them have been hoping for some kind of inexpensive alternative that allows them to get back into the swing of things.

Foot golf is exactly that kind of sport!

Requiring no equipment other than an inexpensive soccer ball, players can get into the swing of this sport with a minimal investment while still getting the opportunity to take in everything that the great courses of the golf world have to offer for.

How much does it cost to play foot golf?

As mentioned above, you do not have to spend a lot of money to get into the sport of foot golf – there are no expensive clubs to purchase and maintain, no golf balls that have to be purchased (and then repurchased when you inevitably lose them in the woods or in the water), and no other “consumables” like wooden tees that have to be purchased over and over again.

All you need is a regulation FIFA #4 or #5 soccer ball and permission to play on a legitimate golf course or stretch of land in your local area. Most games are going to cost quite a bit less than it costs to play traditional golf, but that’s because the entire course will usually be shut down for those foot golf games.

How do I get into competitive foot golf?

There are all kinds of opportunities to get into competitive foot golf tournaments and games, but the Internet is going to be your very best friend when it comes time to find inside information about these matches and contests in your local area.

The odds are fantastic that you’ll be able to find at least a handful of new competitive foot golf athletes in your area with a quick search on Google, and the odds are even better that you’ll be able to find a website or to that helps connect these kinds of athletes on a regular basis.

Social media is another great opportunity to find out about different foot golf games going on in the local area, and there are semi-professional organizations being established all over the world to help support this great game. Check out the UK foot golf website or the US foot golf website.

As the sport continues to grow and gain the attention of more and more folks around the world it’s likely that the participation rate will increase (hopefully dramatically), and ideally it will be possible to play a round of foot golf at any local traditional golf course without any crazy looks or disparaging comments from other golfers.

At the end of the day, foot golf is a sport that is just finding its way. A relatively new game, the future is very bright and will only continue to get brighter as more and more people get into the swing of things.