Golf not your thing? Try disc golf or footgolf!

Shona Manco

A German friend spent the weekend playing disc golf with his young son and both were quite enthralled, even though it took me a while to figure out the connection with golf — disc golf involves hoops on a stake placed strategically behind trees or over ravines, into which yellow discs or frisbees have to be thrown.

“Disc golf is played like traditional golf but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or frisbee,” says Nobert Otzelberger, my German friend. “The fun part of the day was that we enjoyed the good weather and also being in the nature,” added his son, Pablo. “It’s easy to play for beginners. Achieving success made us feel like golf players. We played free of cost and even enjoyed a barbecue afterwards. However, we did struggle when we kept going into the woods because of bad throws.”

Disc golf was formalised in the 1970s and the objective is similar to “ball golf” — completing each hole in the fewest throws.

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the “hole”. The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole, which is an elevated metal basket.

Footgolf!

Interestingly, just yesterday I also received a video on Footgolf. With a complete tour as well as a European champion to boast, footgolfers claim it’s “just like any other day on the links except that you don’t need any clubs or caddies. Your foot is your driver, wedge and putter and you aim for a hole five times bigger than a typical golf hole.”

It seems everyone is trying to cut out equipment manufacturers — make it more fun, cheaper and less complicated. It seems after fusion food, fusion sport is the latest fad.

Footgolf has a large following with tournaments held in the US, Europe and Asia. Ben Clarke, who used to be a goalkeeper, is the current world and European champion. He won the English Open last month.

Needless to say, this sport attracts more footballers to the game, even though organisers claim that many golfers too are trying their foot at it. “Golfers tend to be more analytical whereas footballers give it a good whack,” says one of the organisers.

However, given the general physique of a golfer, most would have to hit the gym before they could, quite literally, start running down the fairways! Secondly, golf and football are quite different. Footballers don’t mind getting dirty or taking a few falls whereas golfers pride themselves on their attire, matched accessories and bright clothes.

“It all depends on the stakes,” laughs Sanjit Singh Bala, a sports enthusiast. “I’m open to trying both but eventually I think golfers will remain traditionalists.”

Both these spin-offs from golf will undoubtedly attract younger people to the game. It’ll give them some fun stuff to do, more interesting than just standing around the putting green and betting on putts after a round of golf. It might also raise the level of fitness or maybe spin off into fitness for golf. Just like Crazy golf, it’s not something your average golfer indulges in but it’s always good for the game.