Footgolf is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK with recent statistics suggesting that over 60,000 people play the sport each week across the 250 officially certified footgolf courses in the country.

North Wales has not been immune to this phenomenon, with there having been an explosion of interest in the sport over the past decade. In fact, the official headquarters of the Footgolf Association of Wales is right on the doorstep of Tan Rallt Holiday Park in addition to one of the best footgolf courses in the country.

Quite simply, there is no better time to start your footgolf career than whilst staying with us at Tan Rallt Holiday Park. Here is our guide to becoming one of the early adopters of this thriving new sporting category.

Who Invented Footgolf?
Footgolf in its current form is said to have been invented in the Netherlands in 2008 by Bas Korsten and Michael Jansen. The pair are said to have loosely based it on a post training session game which was played by the Tottenham Hotspurs football team in the late 1990s.

Korsten’s brother Willem was one of the team's players during this period and would challenge his team-mates to kick the balls back to the changing rooms in as few kicks as possible.

The first official Footgolf competition was organised by Korsten & Jansen in September 2009. From there it has become a major international hit with its own Federation (Federation for International Footgolf). Hungary went on to organise the first ever Footgolf World Cup in June 2012.

The first winners of the Footgolf World Cup was the USA which has become one of the fastest adopters of the sport. Its popularity here has been attributed to a decline in the popularity of traditional golf amongst younger generations. Compared with Golf, Footgolf is largely seen as being faster to learn, easier to play and also has a reduced barrier to entry when it comes to the cost of purchasing equipment.

What are the Rules of Footgolf?
The general concept of Footgolf is incredibly simple, with players starting off from a ‘teeing zone’ and aiming to get the ball into the hole on the ‘green zone’ in as few kicks as possible. It really is as simple as that.

Other factors to take into consideration are that the players with the lowest previous score should kick off first. Once on the Fairway, the player who is furthest from the green zone then becomes the first to kick off.

If the football is kicked out of the course bounds, then a penalty must be taken. This requires the offending player to return to the spot where they last kicked the ball.

Betws Yn Rhos Footgolf Course
Here at Tan Rallt Holiday Park, we are delighted to have a partnership with Silver Birch Golf Club which happens to have been named the best footgolf course in Wales!

It is also considered to be the home of the UK Footgolf Association and regularly plays host to major competitions including the Welsh Open. Whilst staying at Tan Rallt Holiday Park, you can therefore take on this challenging course which has been taken on by some of the very best Footgolf players in the world.

Located just over 2 miles up the road from our holiday park, this Betws Yn Rhos footgolf course is an ideal place to start your Footgolf career in addition to providing a number of challengers for more seasoned players. Whilst on-site, you will also be able to enjoy the majestic countryside views that are also on offer at our stunning North Wales holiday park.

Where Else Can I Play Footgolf in North Wales?
If you own a holiday home at Tan Rallt Holiday Park, then the time may come where you want to widen your horizons and take on a different challenge. If that is the case, then you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of other officially recognised North Wales Footgolf courses to choose from.

This includes a Footgolf course in Llandudno in the form of the Great Orme Golf Course which offers very affordable rates to non-members. For just £6 per adult and £4 for children under the age of 14, Footgolf is an exceptionally affordable activity for families who are looking to enjoy a holiday on a budget.