Footgolf kicks off in Malaysia

Footgolf, which you may have guessed from the name is an amalgamation of football and golf, is a new sport gaining a foothold in Malaysia and around the world.

Jeffrey Cottam set up Footgolf Malaysia.

Jeffrey: “The only difference between golf and footgolf is that the hole is 21 inches (wide) and we use a size five football and your legs are your clubs.”

Although the game's origins are shrouded in mystery, the earliest recorded tournaments took place in the Netherlands in 2008 and it has now found a home in about 36 countries worldwide.

The sport first arrived in Malaysia in 2018 and now around 2,000 Malaysians tee off every month, with one of those players being Jamiatul, a newcomer to the sport.

Jamiatu: “I think for those who know how to use their capabilities and skills, I think you can manage even though this is your first time playing footgolf.”

With the younger generation being far less likely to have the money or time to devote to traditional golf, ailing courses are turning to Footgolf in search of much needed revenue and over 500 US golf courses are already offering the sport.

Those just taking up the sport are still in with a chance of competing at the next World Cup, as it has been delayed to 2021 in Japan. Weniger anzeigen