Footgolf, which combines elements of football and golf, is rapidly gaining popularity in the USA and opens up new opportunities for former professional players, as well as amateurs.
İdman.biz, citing "GOAL", reports that this sport allows people who have prematurely ended their football careers to experience the excitement of the game again.
The story of Bart Voytila, a former footballer from Chicago, is a clear example of this. Voytila, who could not establish himself in professional football, accidentally discovered footgolf and became hooked on this game from the first shot. He is currently the captain of the US national team and won bronze medals at the 2018 and 2023 World Championships.
The main attraction of footgolf lies in its simple rules: the match takes place on a golf course, but players must kick the ball with their feet and direct it into an enlarged hole about 53 cm in diameter. The goal is to get the ball into the hole with as few strokes as possible. Usually, the game is played in groups of 3–4 people, but everyone shows individual results. In large tournaments, a team competition is also organized.
It should be noted that the USA has already created its own footgolf league, and the number of courses has exceeded 500. Regular tournaments are organized, and athletes hope that this type of sport will one day be included in the program of the Olympic Games.
İdman.biz