The M3 corridor west of London now has its first FootGolf course, after the October opening of a new attraction at Sunbury Golf Centre.
Sunbury, a 27-hole ‘pay-and-play’ golf centre located close to M3 Junction 1 between Sunbury-on-Thames and Shepperton, has created a permanent, full-length 18-hole FootGolf course around its existing 9-hole short course.
At the moment, FootGolf can be played there after 1pm each Sunday, although the golf centre plans to increase availability in 2015.
FootGolf is a hybrid of the two sports, in which size 5 footballs and 21-inch cups replace normal golf balls and holes. Just as in golf, players attempt get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible but, unlike golf, the human body provides the only permissible equipment: namely, your feet.
“Hundreds have already played our new FootGolf course in its first month” said the golf centre’s Karl Hodge. “FootGolf is growing fast across the UK, and no wonder – it is ridiculously good fun, anyone can play it, and you can wear what you like. It generally takes just over an hour, and anyone who can kick a ball – including toddlers – is welcome to come and have a game! It’s especially good for families and groups of friends”.
“We’re delighted that Sunbury is the latest golf centre to embrace our sport” said Mike O’Connor, President of the UK FootGolf Association. “It means that FootGolf is now available to a very large new catchment area west of London. It’s a great way to spend time on a Sunday afternoon, so if you haven’t yet tried it, I urge you to grab some friends and get to Sunbury!”
Footballs are supplied by the golf centre, and a round of FootGolf costs £14.50 at Sunbury Golf Centre (£10 for under-16s).
Sunbury is the third Crown Golf venue to open a FootGolf course. The group’s Director of Operations Rob Climas explains why more of its clubs will shortly be adopting the fast-growing sport: “FootGolf attracts football and general sports lovers to a golf club, and I have yet to meet someone who didn’t enjoy themselves” he said.
“FootGolf is the best variation on golf I have ever seen” he continued. “It has proven highly popular already at two of our other facilities: Addington Court Golf Centre near Croydon, and at South Essex Golf Centre near Brentwood. Golf needs to attract new faces, and FootGolf brings a new type of person to our clubs. Some of them will go on to try ‘normal’ golf, and some will remain purely FootGolf customers, but they are all welcome.
“We see FootGolf as a key factor, predominately at our pay-and-play clubs, going forwards.”
Crown Golf www.crown-golf.co.uk
Sunbury Golf Centre www.sunburygolf.co.uk
UK Footgolf Associationwww.ukfootgolf.com
Federation for International FootGolf www.fifg.org