TWO IRISH ENTREPRENEURS are bringing the crazy sport which combines football and golf to Dublin.
Aptly named ‘footgolf’, it was first established in Holland three years ago and has since spread around the globe with Budapest holding the inaugural World Cup in 2012.
The rules are the same as conventional golf in that players compete over 18 holes and aim to finish with the lowest score. As you’ve probably guessed by now, the difference lies in the fact that, instead of clubs and tiny golf balls, size 5 footballs are kicked up the fairway, onto the green, and into the giant holes.
Former stars such as Teddy Sheringham, Chritian Karembeu, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Frank de Boer and Ruud Gullit have all taken to it in recent years and, next month, the first footgolf course in Ireland will open.
‘Footee’ is the brainchild of Ronan Cunningham and Dave Campbell, who met while attending a business course in UCD last year, and decided to start the venture after seeing how the recession has badly hit a raft of golf courses around the country.
They found the perfect location in Firhouse, Dublin 24, a site which was formerly the Dublin City Golf Course, and have been working tirelessly to get it ready for their May 4 grand opening date.
Speaking to TheScore, Cunningham explains: “We came across a couple of videos and just thought something like this would really work in Ireland.
“The country is so small so it’s easy for people to travel from all four corners whether it’s for stag parties or whatever.
The beauty of the sport is that the rules of golf are used but it’s essentially football. It’s about kicking a ball. When you get to the greens, that’s when a bit golfing knowledge will probably come in handy.”
The pair, who are both huge soccer fans, have seen massive interest pour in since posting a promotional video on YouTube last month (see below). Before even opening their doors, there are 700 people pencilled in to play.
“That’s purely corporate,” he adds. “A lot of companies are saying they’re tired of doing the same things like carting and paintball and the likes. So we’re an ideal alternative in that regard.”
YouTube credit: footeeireland
For more information, visit footee.ie or their facebook page
