I’m a little excited, so I’ll try to pass this information along the best I can with as few exclamation points as possible. It’s going to be tough.
There’s an Argentine Football Golf Association, and its president says that Football Golf is on the rise in Latin America and there was a football golf World Cup this year and why isn’t this already a thing in the United States someone please make it happen I want to play really bad. Run-on sentences are not exclamation points, so I’m allowed. Everybody breathe.
Javier Ancizar says football golf is not a competitor to traditional golf. You don’t say.
“We want to add something positive, not to compete (with golf),” said Ancizar who schedules tournaments in midweek when fewer golfers play.
“We’re aware that we are on golf grounds but at the same time there are many courses in Argentina that may not be able to do all the necessary maintenance with just golf revenue alone.
“I see this as a good way for golf courses to supplement their earnings and help with course upkeep,” added Ancizar.
Tournaments are held midweek, when golf golfers are typically fewer. Apparently the organization of the game is such that they’ve already held a football golf World Cup with 80 players from eight countries.
As for the nitty gritty of the football golf rules, it’s not quite what you imagine. It’s nothing like the golfoot charity event held in Switzerland, for example, because football golf doesn’t use the green. This is a mighty, might letdown. Players use a size 5 ball and aim for a hole placed three meters from the green. The holes are filled with sand and covered with a patch of grass when not in use.
The benefits of this sport are obvious. Anyone can play. Even girls (!).
“You don’t have to be a good soccer or golf player, you just need to know how to kick the ball and know how to think – to analyse the course so as to not take unnecessary risks,” said Ancizar.
“Anyone can kick a football. It’s a sport for everybody, kids, older people, girls,” said Ancizar.
A peek at the Argentine association’s website reveals they call it “footgolf” which is better than “football golf” but not quite as good as “folfball”, which is a word I just made up.
Actual tournaments for a sport that seems like something you made up with your friends during the summer between fifth and sixth grades? Yes please. America, get on this.
Source: Reuters
