Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa in Shropshire has opened a FootGolf course to attract more corporate and leisure guests onto its greens, in a bid to grow the game.
The property has two 18 hole greens – the Emerald Championship Course and the Sapphire Course – with the latter having had 20 inch wide holes cut into it in a unique bid to attract new players with FootGolf.
Keith Pickard, group director of golf at Macdonald Hotel & Resorts said: “We aim to stay one step ahead of the competition and are always looking at ways to keep the game both current and inclusive. It’s also extremely important for us to increase participation and grow the game of golf to ensure that the sport is secure for the future.
“Anyone can play FootGolf; it offers corporate clients something different to enjoy and provides great opportunities for team building, especially in those groups where there are non-golfers. It is also a fantastic way for families to spend time together having fun outdoors.”
Thought to originate in the United States, FootGolf is a game in which competitors must kick a football into the holes around the course, only with their feet, in the least amount of shots possible.
Gareth May, UK head of development at the UK FootGolf Association said: “FootGolf is a truly inclusive sport, it can be played by persons of any age or sex. Whether it be an individual looking to get in to a new sport, a football club looking to focus on some training elements with players, a company looking for a fun corporate and team building day, or parents and grand-parents looking to take their children to play outdoors, all can participate in FootGolf.
“It’s fantastic to be partnering with this forward thinking hotel group on offering this brilliant new sport to guests and visitors.”
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts offers nine celebrated golf courses as well as many other affiliated golf courses across the UK and Spain.
UK FootGolf Association www.ukfootgolf.com