New twist on golf kicks off this coming weekend

SPORTS — There’s a new game in town. You’ve heard of disc golf, or frisbee golf, even snow golf. Now there’s footgolf.

On Friday, Sun Rivers will kick off the new sport with local soccer leagues and community dignitaries at an invitational tournament. Public play starts Saturday, July 12 at noon complete with a soccer challenge presented by the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) from 2 to 4 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to be the first in Kamloops and one of the first in Canada to introduce this sport,” said Sun Rivers Golf Course general manager Rob Larocque.

“To be able to get people out on the golf course playing a new sport is very exciting for us – it’s an entirely new and challenging game combining two great sports.”

Saturday, $5 per footgolf green fee will be donated directly back to the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association with $1 per round donated to the KYSA for the rest of the season, he said.

“We feel that it’s extremely important to give back to the community and this is a great way for us to introduce a new sport and give back to the youth soccer community during their 50th Anniversary season.”

Footgolf is a combination of soccer and golf. The footgolf course features 18 holes laid out on nine holes of the golf course with 21-inch cups placed along the fairway.

Since the game corresponds to the rules of golf, the game follows similar rules, etiquette and pace of play as regular golf.

Eighteen holes takes about two hours and 15 minutes to complete. Adults can try footgolf for $20; Juniors $12 plus carts. Rental balls will be available.