Footgolf Explained: Rules, Scoring, and Where to Play

Footgolf rules borrow from both parent sports:

• Equipment: A standard size-5 football. No clubs.
• Course: 9 or 18 holes on a modified golf course. Holes are 53cm diameter — larger than a regular golf hole, smaller than a football goal.
• Tee shots: From a marked tee. Players must keep the ball moving forward toward the green.
• Penalties: Out-of-bounds shots add a stroke. Water hazards add a stroke and require dropping at the entry point.
• Putting: From the green, kicks must roll the ball into the hole. No flicks or chips on the green.
• Scoring: Lowest total strokes wins. Pars on a footgolf hole are typically 3-4 strokes.

Footgolf courses are shorter than golf courses but longer than mini-golf:

• Total length for 18 holes: typically 1,800-2,400 metres (vs ~6,000m for golf).
• Hole length: 50-200 metres each.
• Course time: 60-90 minutes for 18 holes.
• Par: Total course par is usually 60-72 for 18 holes.

Standard golf scoring terms apply:

• Hole-in-one (ace): 1 stroke. Rare but possible on short par-3 holes.
• Eagle: 2 strokes under par. Usually requires a hole-in-one on a par-3 or a brilliant approach on a par-5.
• Birdie: 1 stroke under par.
• Par: Equal to par. The standard score.
• Bogey: 1 stroke over par.
• Double bogey: 2 strokes over par.

Three demographics dominate:

• Casual recreational players. The biggest group. People who like football but don't want to commit to a full football match. Birthday parties, work outings, family days.
• Former footballers. Players who can't play full football because of age or injury. The slower pace + no impact + outdoor walking is appealing.
• Competitive footgolfers. Smaller group of dedicated players who play in the BFF (UK) or FIFG (international) competitive circuit. Tournaments are typically free to enter or low-cost.

Footgolf etiquette borrows heavily from golf:

• Quiet during shots. Don't talk while another player is preparing to strike.
• Repair your divots. Replace any turf you displace.
• Walk between shots. Most footgolf courses are walking-only (no carts).
• Pace of play. Keep moving. A group of four should clear a hole in 8-10 minutes.
• Don't play through other players unless invited.

Three pathways to play:

• Standard golf courses with footgolf hours. Many regular golf courses now offer footgolf rounds in late afternoon / evening when golfers have finished. Search "footgolf" + your city.
• Dedicated footgolf courses. Some venues are footgolf-only. The UK has 50+ dedicated courses; the USA has 200+; Brazil has hundreds.
• Tournament play. The British Footgolf Federation runs UK tournaments. The Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG) runs continental and world events. The FootGolf World Cup happens every 2-3 years.

Footgolf isn't football with kicking-only rules. It's a separate sport that uses a football. Three differences:

• Distance is more important than speed. A great footgolfer can put a ball 80-100 metres from a single tee shot. Pace matters less than swing technique.
• Approach control. The skill of making the ball stop near the hole — far harder than just kicking it long.
• Mental discipline. Like golf, footgolf is a mental game. A bad tee shot doesn't cause a fast counter-attack — but it does add strokes that follow you all round.