Soccer + Golf = FootGolf
FootGolf: The Sport Where You Kick Your Way Around 18 Holes
FootGolf is real golf, played with your feet. Swap the clubs for a soccer ball, keep the same scorecard, and play one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, on courses you already know.
2008
Created in the Netherlands
18
Holes per round, same as golf
What Is FootGolf?
FootGolf takes the layout, etiquette, and scoring of golf and swaps the clubs and small ball for a soccer ball and your feet. Players kick from a tee box toward a hole about 20 inches (50 to 52 cm) wide cut into the green, using the same par, bunkers, hazards, and 18-hole structure as traditional golf.
Organized FootGolf is widely credited to Bas Korsten and Michael Jansen, who created the sport in the Netherlands in 2008. The sport has since spread to dozens of countries and is now governed internationally by the Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG), with the American FootGolf League (AFGL) overseeing sanctioned courses and tournaments across the United States.
Read the full history and explanationWhy People Are Falling For FootGolf
Genuine Competition
Behind the casual vibe is a real competitive scene: sanctioned AFGL tour stops, national rankings, and a FIFG World Cup.
Easy To Learn
If you can kick a ball, you can play. There's no swing to master, so it's approachable for total beginners and families alike.
A Real Workout
An 18-hole round means miles of walking plus the balance and accuracy of a controlled kick, good cardio dressed up as a laid-back afternoon.
How To Play FootGolf
FootGolf follows the same flow as a round of golf: play in groups set by the course (commonly up to four players), moving through the holes in order. Full rules, scoring, group etiquette, and technique tips for your first round are covered in our complete guide.
- 1
Tee off
Start with the ball inside the tee zone at the tee markers.
- 2
Play it as it lies
Keep kicking from wherever the ball stops, without improving your lie.
- 3
Mind the flag
You can have the flagstick removed, but nobody may hold it while you kick.
- 4
Hole out
The round ends when the ball drops into the cup; write down your score.
What To Wear & Bring
Most FootGolf courses enforce the same dress code as their golf side: collared shirts, golf shorts or pants, and turf or indoor soccer shoes instead of cleats. Bring your own approved ball if you have one, a towel, and sunscreen for a full 18.
- Collared shirt
- Golf shorts, pants, or skirt
- Turf or indoor soccer shoes
- Approved size 5 FootGolf ball
Find FootGolf Courses Near You
FootGolf courses now operate in nearly every US region, from dedicated facilities to traditional golf courses that added a FootGolf layout. We break down how to find a sanctioned course near you and how AFGL affiliation works.
Start Your Course SearchCommon Questions
A few things almost everyone asks before their first round.
Browse all FootGolf FAQs and articles- What is FootGolf?
- FootGolf is a hybrid sport that combines soccer and golf. Players kick a soccer ball around a golf course and try to get it into an oversized hole in as few kicks as possible, using standard golf scoring (par, birdie, bogey, etc.).
- Is FootGolf a real, organized sport?
- Yes. FootGolf is organized internationally by the Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG) and in the United States by the American FootGolf League (AFGL), which run sanctioned tournaments and maintain official rules.
- Do I need special equipment to play FootGolf?
- You need a size 5 soccer ball approved for FootGolf play and comfortable athletic or turf shoes. Most courses provide or sell approved balls, so equipment costs to get started are minimal.
Ready to play your first round?
Get the full rulebook, find a course, and gear up. Everything you need to tee (kick) off starts here.