Northwest courses have new game called FootGolf

There’s a new game in Tacoma. It looks like soccer. It plays like golf. And when you mix the two together you get FootGolf.

That’s the new game that is taking over at golf courses around the country. The Pacific Northwest is catching on quickly as Meadow Park Golf Course in Tacoma is opening a FootGolf course this month as is Glendoveer in Portland and Mallard Creek in Lebanon, Oregon.

In fact, the game is taking off so fast that there is an American FootGolf League and in May, that organization had a “FootGolf Day in the Northern Hemisphere.” A big event was held at the Legends Golf Club in Indiana with ESPN and Golf Channel both on hand to record what the sport is all about.

“We got wind of FootGolf last Fall via print and video presentations of the sport on ESPN and The Golf Channel – and we liked it right away,” said Dan Harrington, PGA Head Golf Professional at Meadow Park Golf Course. “We saw that several golf facilities were wanting to branch out to attract a whole new demographic of golfers to visit their courses. We decided we wanted to join the party.”

Meadow Park is owned and operated by Metro Parks Tacoma, an organization that quickly embraced the FootGolf concept as it fits nicely with its collective mission: to encourage outdoor and healthy lifestyles through fun and recreation.

Meadow Park’s FootGolf course is now open. It has incorporated its existing Williams Nine, but the FootGolf course will have its own greens, 21-inch cups and soccer balls. The eighteen holes range anywhere from 73 yards to 187 yards. There are par-3, par-4 and par-5 holes with the total 2,203 yard, par 69 course. It’s just like real golf, except for the foot part.

“This is something that could really take off – we already have a group that has reserved a FootGolf tournament the day of Team USA’s first scheduled World Cup game in June,” said Harrington. “It’s something that will need to have some word of mouth help, but it looks like it will work.”

The expected pace of play is an hour and 30 minutes to play 18 holes and the price is right, as Meadow Park will charge $10.50 plus tax for adults and $8.00 plus tax for youth (20 and under) participants. “This is a game for everyone,” said Harrington. “Just like for golf, please call ahead for a FootGolf tee time.”

For information on FootGolf call Meadow Park at 253.473.3033