FootGolf is a sport where you kick a size 5 soccer ball around a course and into 21-inch holes in as few kicks as possible. It borrows much of golf’s scoring, strategy, course etiquette, and terminology, but it is played with your feet rather than golf clubs.
The official spelling is FootGolf, although plenty of golfers search for it as “foot golf.” Courses may be purpose-built or laid out alongside a traditional golf course using separate FootGolf tees and larger cups.
The basic idea is easy to understand. The rules around teeing, marking your ball, bunkers, penalty areas, and out-of-bounds are where beginners are more likely to get caught out.
Here’s what you need to know before your first round.
What Is FootGolf?
FootGolf combines the kicking skills of soccer with the scoring and course-management principles of golf. You begin each hole in a designated teeing zone and try to get your soccer ball into the FootGolf cup using the fewest kicks.
The Federation for International FootGolf, or FIFG, governs the sport internationally and maintains its rules and competition structure.
A standard FootGolf cup is 21 inches in diameter, so it is much larger than a conventional golf hole. The larger target is necessary because you are playing with a full-size soccer ball rather than a golf ball.
That does not make the game automatic. Longer kicks bring slopes, bunkers, penalty areas, rough, trees, and out-of-bounds into play, while short kicks require good pace and directional control.
How Do You Play FootGolf?
The simplest way to understand FootGolf is to think of it as golf played with kicks.
- Start from the designated FootGolf teeing zone.
- Kick the ball toward the FootGolf hole.
- When it is your turn again, play the ball from where it came to rest unless a rule allows or requires relief.
- Continue until the ball finishes in the hole.
- Record the number of kicks and any applicable penalty kicks.
The player with the lowest total score over the stipulated round wins in stroke-play competition.
You do not receive a penalty simply because you score over par. If a par-4 hole takes you five kicks, your score is simply five, or one over par. Penalty kicks are added only when a rule requires them.
FootGolf Rules for Beginners
Casual courses may have their own Local Rules, so always read the scorecard or course instructions before starting. For organized competition, the FIFG rules provide the governing framework.
1. Use a Size 5 Soccer Ball
The standard FootGolf ball is a size 5 soccer ball. This also matches one of the specific questions already bringing Bing visitors to the Windtree page.
For official play, FIFG’s basic equipment guidance also calls for a round ball marker. An approved tee is optional.
2. Start From the FootGolf Teeing Zone
The old version of this article said the ball should be placed within “two club lengths” of the tee marker. That is not the current FIFG guidance.
You can play the ball from the ground or use an optional tee, with the ball positioned up to 2 meters behind the designated tee markers.
Do not assume the traditional golf teeing area and the FootGolf teeing zone use identical rules. If you also play regular golf, our guide to the golf teeing area explains the conventional golf version separately.
3. The Player Farthest From the Hole Usually Plays First
After the tee shot, the player whose ball is farthest from the hole plays first.
If another player’s ball interferes with your intended play, it can be marked and moved according to the rules. If you accidentally hit another ball on the fairway, that ball is replaced in its original position.
4. Mark the Ball Near the Hole
FIFG guidance says your ball must be marked when it is on the green zone or within 3 meters of the hole.
The marker goes behind the ball in line with the hole. This keeps balls from interfering with each other while players are finishing the hole.
When playing close to the hole, you can use your toe or instep, but FIFG guidance does not allow using the sole of your shoe to simply roll the ball forward.
5. Bunkers Are Played Differently From Normal Golf
A ball in a bunker is not automatically a penalty.
Under FIFG’s basic rules, you play it from the bunker, but you cannot use a running kick or scoop the ball out. You should also rake the bunker after playing so the next player receives a fair lie.
6. Penalty Areas Give You Relief Options
If your ball enters a water or penalty area, the rules provide several options depending on the situation.
You may be able to play the ball as it lies. Alternatively, you can take relief with a penalty kick, including returning to your previous location or using an appropriate relief point near where the ball entered the area.
Check the course markings and Local Rules before choosing your option. They determine the exact boundaries and may affect where relief is available.
7. Out of Bounds Costs a Penalty
If you kick the ball beyond the course boundary, FIFG’s basic guidance requires a penalty and a return to the location of your previous kick.
That makes avoiding out-of-bounds especially important on longer holes. A huge kick is not useful if it forces you to go back and add a penalty.
What Equipment Do You Need for FootGolf?
One reason FootGolf is easy to try is that the equipment list is short.
- A size 5 soccer ball
- A round ball marker
- Suitable clothing
- Appropriate footwear
- An optional FootGolf tee
Some recreational venues rent or supply soccer balls, while others expect you to bring your own. Check with the course before arriving rather than assuming a ball is included in the green fee.
What Should You Wear for FootGolf?
For organized FIFG play, the traditional FootGolf look includes a collared shirt, golf-style shorts, knee-high socks, and suitable turf or indoor-style athletic shoes.
Traditional soccer cleats are not permitted under current FIFG guidance. That restriction also makes sense from a course-care perspective because aggressive studs can damage golf-course turf.
A recreational FootGolf facility may operate a more relaxed dress code, so beginners do not necessarily need to buy competition clothing for their first casual round.
Check the venue’s rules before visiting, particularly for footwear.
How Big Is a FootGolf Hole?
An official FootGolf cup has a diameter of 21 inches.
The larger hole changes the short game considerably compared with golf, but pace remains important. A soccer ball can gather speed quickly on sloping turf, and an aggressive kick can easily finish farther away than where it started.
That is where some of the golf element becomes obvious. Good FootGolf is not simply about kicking harder than everyone else.
What Is a FootGolf Course Like?
FootGolf can be played on specially designed courses or on modified golf courses with dedicated FootGolf tees and cups.
The route often uses familiar golf-course features such as fairways, rough, slopes, bunkers, trees, and water. The FootGolf holes are positioned separately so players are aiming at the larger soccer-ball cups rather than conventional golf holes.
Courses vary significantly in length and layout. Some offer nine holes, others 18, and facilities can set up shorter recreational layouts as well as more demanding tournament courses.
Do not assume the shortest route to the cup is always the best one. A controlled kick that keeps the ball on useful ground can be much better than trying to clear every obstacle at maximum power.
How Is FootGolf Scored?
FootGolf uses golf-style scoring. Count each kick required to complete the hole, then add any penalties required by the rules.
Each hole normally has a designated par, so you can describe a score relative to par in the familiar golf way. The important point is that par is a benchmark, not a punishment.
If you take fewer kicks than par, you are under par. If you take more, you are over par. There is no extra penalty merely for exceeding the par number.
In organized competition, players record and verify scores on their scorecards according to the event rules.
FootGolf vs. Golf: What’s the Difference?
| FootGolf | Traditional golf |
|---|---|
| Size 5 soccer ball | Golf ball |
| Ball is kicked | Ball is struck with clubs |
| 21-inch FootGolf cup | Standard golf hole |
| Score counted in kicks | Score counted in strokes |
| FootGolf teeing zones | Golf teeing areas |
| Golf-style course strategy and etiquette | Traditional golf strategy and etiquette |
The biggest similarity is strategic rather than technical. In both sports, simply sending the ball as far as possible is rarely enough.
You need to manage hazards, think about the next shot, control distance, and avoid turning one mistake into several.
How to Find FootGolf Courses Near You
“FootGolf near me” is one of the strongest related search themes in the supplied Ahrefs research, and fortunately there is a better answer than relying on random directory listings.
In the United States, the American FootGolf League maintains an official FootGolf course finder.
You can also search directly with local golf courses. Some facilities offer FootGolf only on selected days or during particular hours so it does not conflict with conventional golf play.
Before making a trip, check:
- Whether FootGolf is currently available
- Whether advance booking is required
- Ball rental or bring-your-own-ball rules
- Footwear and dress requirements
- Whether the course has nine or 18 FootGolf holes
- Any age restrictions for juniors
FootGolf Tips for Beginners
You do not need a soccer background to enjoy FootGolf, but players with good ball control will naturally have an advantage. The quickest way to improve is to think more like a golfer and less like a penalty-kick specialist.
1. Choose a Landing Area, Not Just a Direction
Look at where you want the ball to finish rather than simply aiming toward the flag.
A ball that stops on short grass with a clear next kick may leave a much easier hole than one kicked farther into rough, trees, or a poor angle.
2. Learn a Controlled Inside-Foot Kick
Maximum power is useful on some holes, but directional control matters more often.
An inside-foot pass-style action can be useful for shorter approaches and putting because it gives you a broad contact area and makes pace easier to judge.
3. Let the Ground Work for You
A soccer ball reacts strongly to slopes. Before kicking, look beyond the direct line and consider where the ball will roll after it lands.
This is one of the biggest overlaps with golf course management. The best target may be several yards away from the cup if the ground naturally feeds the ball toward it.
4. Take Trouble Out of Play
Penalty areas and out-of-bounds can make an ambitious kick expensive.
If you cannot comfortably carry or avoid the trouble, playing to a wider section of the hole can save more kicks than attempting the spectacular shot.
5. Control Pace Around the Hole
The 21-inch cup looks enormous from close range, but a hard kick can catch an edge or run well beyond the target.
As you get closer, shift the priority from power to predictable contact and pace.
A Brief History of FootGolf
The current article previously gave a very specific invention story while also contradicting itself over whether modern FootGolf began in 2008 or 2009.
The safer historical picture is that the modern organized sport developed in the late 2000s before national and international bodies formalized competition during the following years.
In the United States, the American FootGolf League states that it was founded on November 19, 2011. It records the first U.S. FootGolf tournament as taking place at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells on July 22, 2012.
The Federation for International FootGolf also dates its international structure to 2012 and now oversees international rules, members, rankings, and competitions.
This is a relatively young sport, but its competition structure is now much more established than the novelty activity some golfers may remember from its early years.
Is FootGolf a Real Competitive Sport?
Yes. FootGolf can certainly be played as a casual social activity, but it also has organized national and international competition.
In the United States, the American FootGolf League currently runs both AFGL Tour and U.S. Amateur Tour competition. The international game is governed through the FIFG.
The 2026 FIFG FootGolf World Championship was held in Acapulco, Mexico, from May 27 through June 7, with separate individual and team competitions.
That competitive structure is useful context for beginners. You can treat FootGolf as an occasional round with friends, or progress into ranked tournament play if the sport catches your interest.
What Is the FootGolf World Championship?
The FIFG World Championship is the sport’s flagship global competition, bringing together leading FootGolf players and national teams.
The first edition was held in Hungary in 2012. Subsequent World Championships have been staged in Argentina, Morocco, the United States, and Mexico.
The 2026 championship in Acapulco used Turtle Dunes Country Club and Tres Vidas Golf Club, with the individual championship followed by the team competition.
Can Children Play FootGolf?
FootGolf can be accessible to younger players because the basic concept is easy to understand and it does not require a full set of golf clubs.
However, individual courses can set their own age, supervision, and booking policies. Check with the venue before arriving with children.
If FootGolf sparks an interest in the traditional game as well, our guide to golf classes for beginners explains some of the options for getting started with conventional golf.
FootGolf FAQs
What Size Ball Is Used for FootGolf?
Official FootGolf uses a size 5 soccer ball. FIFG guidance also requires a round ball marker, while an approved tee is optional.
How Do You Tee Off in FootGolf?
Play from the designated FootGolf teeing zone. FIFG’s current basic guidance allows you to kick from the ground or use an optional tee, with the ball positioned up to 2 meters behind the markers.
Can You Wear Soccer Cleats for FootGolf?
No, not under current FIFG competition guidance. Appropriate footwear includes indoor or AstroTurf-style trainers, while cleated soccer shoes are prohibited.
A casual course may publish its own footwear rules, so check before playing.
Can You Pick Up Your Ball in FootGolf?
You cannot simply pick up and reposition the ball whenever you want.
There are specific circumstances for marking and lifting it, including around the green zone or when another player’s ball is affected. Follow the applicable rule and replace the ball correctly.
What Happens if a FootGolf Ball Goes in the Water?
FIFG rules provide several options. Depending on the situation, you may play the ball from where it lies or take an appropriate form of relief with a penalty kick.
Check the exact penalty-area boundary and Local Rules before deciding how to proceed.
What Happens if the Ball Goes Out of Bounds?
Under FIFG’s basic guidance, out-of-bounds results in a penalty and you return to the location of your previous kick.
Do You Get a Penalty for Scoring Over Par?
No. If a hole is par 4 and you take five kicks, your score is simply five.
A penalty kick is added for a rules breach or a relief procedure that carries a penalty, not merely because your score exceeds par.
How Long Does a Round of FootGolf Take?
There is no single reliable duration for every round. The time depends on the number of holes, course length, group size, player ability, course traffic, and whether FootGolf is sharing the facility with conventional golfers.
Check with the individual venue if timing matters for your booking.
Who Invented FootGolf?
Modern FootGolf developed through several organizers and national groups in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
The current governing-body sources reviewed for this update do not identify one universally accepted individual inventor, so it is better not to present a disputed name or date as settled fact.
Do Professional FootGolf Players Earn a Salary?
There is no standard published salary for a professional FootGolf player.
High-level events can offer prize money, and individual players may have sponsorship or other income, but earnings vary. FootGolf is not structured like a major salaried U.S. team sport.
Where Can I Play FootGolf?
FootGolf is available on dedicated layouts and modified golf courses around the world.
For U.S. players, the FootGolf USA course directory is a useful starting point. Always confirm current availability directly with the course before traveling.
FootGolf: The Bottom Line
FootGolf is easy to understand: kick a size 5 soccer ball from the teeing zone into a 21-inch cup in as few kicks as possible. The enjoyment comes from discovering that good scores require much more than simply kicking the ball a long way.
Course management, pace control, slopes, hazards, and accurate short kicks all matter. The sport also has its own established rules, so beginners should not assume that either soccer rules or traditional golf rules apply automatically.
For a first casual round, you mainly need the right ball, suitable footwear, and an understanding of the local course rules. If you move into organized competition, use the current FIFG rules and competition conditions rather than relying on an old online summary.