Noblesville Parks Dept. to debut FootGolf at Fox Prairie
As the department works on two new parks, Noblesville Parks Director Brandon Bennett said an addition at the 36-hole Fox Prairie Golf Course provides residents with a unique offering – FootGolf.
“It’s the most exciting thing we’ve done in a long time. We’ve had fun doing it,” Bennett said.
As the name indicates, FootGolf is a combination of soccer and golf.
“We wanted to offer this new, unique opportunity for families, teams, companies, to get some exercise, develop skills or just have some fun with the newest sport in the industry,” Bennett said. “This allows us to do that while utilizing our existing facilities and bringing soccer into the golf world.”
Noblesville will be the seventh course in Indiana and only the second 18-hole course in Central Indiana. Officials are hoping the accredited course will be host to regional tournaments in the future.
“We’re all in on this,” Bennett said. “If this turns out to be a success, we want to be the Midwest center for tournament play.”
The course was designed by Bennett, assistant parks director Mike Hoffmeister, golf course superintendent Curt Brisco and Gary Deakyne, PGA professional and director of golf at Noblesville Parks.
“As a golf professional I was not excited at all – something fun for someone else – but as I heard more it makes money and is a good way of having fun,” Deakyne said.
The biggest advantage of adding FootGolf is that it does not disrupt the course. Golf and foot golf courses will both be available for play anytime that Fox Prairie is open.
“We can integrate it with golf at the same time,” Deakyne said. “We are not closing down the ‘West 9’ for FootGolf. We can have a group play FootGolf with a group of golfers right behind them.”
In addition to creating another recreational activity, officials said FootGolf provides a different revenue stream.
“As the golf industry continues to decline we have to look outside the box and do everything we can to find creative ways to drive revenue,” Bennett said.
“The game of golf in general across the country is in decline in play and revenue,” said Hoffmeister. “The largest youth sport is soccer. If we want kids to be more engaged in golf why not bring in soccer?”
Hoffmeister, a former soccer coach, said FootGolf teaches ball control, shaping a shot, accuracy, distance and team camaraderie.
“It teaches while you have fun at the same time,” he said.
Bennett said another benefit of FootGolf is getting more people to Fox Prairie.
“It exposes people who wouldn’t normally be out here. We’re going to try to grow golf from that standpoint,” he said.
Like disc golf, which has seven courses in Hamilton County including Dr. James A. Dillon and Morse Beach parks in Noblesville, FootGolf is becoming more popular across the nation.
“If we don’t build it now we’ll be behind the time,” Hoffmeister said.
Bennett said a typical par 4 in golf is 350 to 400 yards. In FootGolf it is 130 yards. The size difference allows two or three holes to be placed on one golf hole and “out of the normal area of play.” Deakyne said golfers should not notice the FootGolf course.
“If you do, you’re not hitting (the ball) where you are supposed to hit it,” Deakyne said. “You’ll never know FootGolf is out there.”
Officials said the fall opening will allow them time and feedback to make improvements before the spring. Bennett said the parks department is looking to partner with local soccer clubs including the Noblesville Soccer Club, which has fields less than a mile from Fox Prairie.
Bennett said the cost for FootGolf is considerably cheaper than golf and the pace is quicker.
“You have 13 clubs in a bag and before you hit the ball you have to decide what club, find distance and take practice swings. With FootGolf you walk up to the ball and kick it. You don’t have to decide anything,” he said. “The whole family can come out and kick the ball. That’s the beauty of soccer – kids can play at an early age.”
The basics
Players tee up in groups like golf and begin each hole by kicking a soccer ball from the tee. They then kick the ball until it lands in the special 21-inch hole while utilizing the etiquette and rules of traditional golf. FootGolf’s cost is $14 per person to walk 18 holes or $21.50 to ride 18 holes. Players are encouraged to call for tee times up to one week in advance. Rental soccer balls will be available or players may bring their own. For more information, call 776-6350.
FootGolf cheat sheet
1) There is no specific dress code, but soccer cleats are not allowed.
2) Your soccer ball must be easy to identify.
3) Maintain a proper pace of play, as you would in traditional golf.
4) You must kick the ball from up to 6 feet behind the tee markers.
5) Make sure your kick won’t interfere with other FootGolf or traditional golf players. Use your scorecard and wait for your turn.
6) Your kick must be one single movement and you may only use your feet to play the ball.
7) Wait to play until the ball has completely come to rest. You cannot stop the ball from rolling.
8) Play the ball from where it is. You cannot move the ball except to pick it up to mark a spot if it might interfere with another player’s kick or ball.
9) The first player to kick the ball is the player farthest from the hole.
10) If a ball lands in water: Retrieve it and place it within two steps from closest land point where the ball entered the hazard and receive a one-stroke penalty –or– place the ball at the position of the previous kick and receive a one-stroke penalty.
11) The ball may only be picked up to be cleaned or replaced when on the green. Golf greens will not be used for FootGolf.
12) Have fun.
