One of the fastest growing sports in the country has reached south west London as Sunbury Golf Centre has launched its own footgolf course.
The sport – a combination of golf and football – is thought to have originated in 2006 but has surged in popularity in the UK in the past two years, with 78 courses now available nationwide.
Sunbury Golf Centre General Manager Jon Kaltner is pleased with how successful the hybrid sport is already proving.
“We only launched back in October,” he said. “We’ve been running it on Sundays and occasionally in the week for groups and we’ve seen a big uptake in trade in those periods.
“It’s exposing more people to our venue and to golf in a wider sense, and it’s certainly growing very rapidly across the country.
“I think the guys who are playing footgolf are not necessarily guys who have played golf in the past, but we all know how to kick a football.”
Two such novices are Anthea Thomas and Nick Bull, who were playing their maiden 18 holes as part of a work trip with the army.
“Everybody is cheating, but we’re enjoying it!” said Anthea, 38, from Aldershot.
“The experience is brilliant, and it’s something different – I’m just trying to get the ball in the hole!”
Nick, a 26-year-old from Badshot Lea, agreed that it was good fun, saying how it was a good day out of the office.
“Everyone of all abilities can play, it’s a laugh,” he said. “Everyone should definitely get involved – I was told by the pro inside that it’s the fastest growing sport in the UK.”
