Global Edition

FootGolf: ‘a Sporting Revolution’

11.29am 23rd August 2013 - Management Topics

FootgolfDSC04009 (3)FootGolf combines the social aspect and elegance of Golf with the world’s passion for Football. Like golf, FootGolf is very addictive and great fun to play as it combines both sports, yet only requires a basic amount of skill to play. The key to being a good FootGolf player is having a mixture of power and precision, with the added feel that you’d have with a golf club.

This exciting new sport is attracting everybody’s attention, especially those that wish they could play golf or football well, but do not have the energy to run around a pitch, or the time to play a full 18 holes. It can provide fun for the whole family regardless of age, sex or ability.

Like Golf the aim of the game is to get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of strokes as possible.

FootgolfDSC04018 (2)The first affiliated FootGolf course in the UK, installed by European Golf at ‘One Stop Golf’ in Hull, was designed to test every player’s ability whether young, old, novice or professional. Each of the 9 holes on the course is designed differently, in a similar way to regular golf, with a mix of bunkers, water hazards and even three tier greens. A football, scorecard and pencil is all you need to play and start enjoying the sport of FootGolf.

Whilst being a revolution in sport, FootGolf is also a potential revolution waiting to happen at any golf club, pitch and putt course or general sports area. The opportunity to turn an under utilised area into a new exciting revenue stream cannot be ignored by any organisation. As the balls used are soft, there are no longer many of the health and safety concerns associated with Pitch and Putt courses, where holes can run dangerously close to each other.

The simple transition of these courses into fun golf for beginners further illustrates their versatility and flexibility. In fact, SNAG (Starting New At Golf) courses are very similar in design, size and layout to FootGolf courses, where tennis sized soft balls and over sized clubs are used to introduce beginners to the sport. Both FootGolf and SNAG introduce the player to the etiquette, which is so important to the game of golf. It is then a small progression onwards to the full-blown game of golf. Before you know it, you have converted an armchair football fan into a regular playing golfer!

European Golf is at the forefront of this sporting revolution. Already having installed the course at ‘One Stop Golf’ in Hull, they have proved that their knowledge of providing synthetic grass surfaces for golf, very easily translates and adapts to the provision of FootGolf courses. Their product range, knowledge, skill and design capabilities enable them to turn an un-used, or under utilised, area into a potentially serious income generator and development centre.

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