NEW GLARUS - Mike Jennrich has taken up a new game of FootGolf this summer and has already played four times at the Argue-Ment Golf Course in New Glarus.
Jennrich, like some of his soccer teammates for Sugar River, have used the FootGolf course in New Glarus as a training ground for the upcoming soccer season in the fall. FootGolf is a game growing in popularity that relies on the fundamentals of soccer and combines it with the challenge and tradition of golf.
"The one thing I really like is it doesn't matter about your skill level," Jennrich said. "It's just like golf, but instead of using golf clubs and a ball you use your foot and a soccer ball. I think there isn't really anything else like it. Golf is a sport with so many rules. FootGolf is more relaxed and more for people who like to have fun."
FootGolf is played with a regulation-size soccer ball, and uses golf's basic model including tee boxes, greens, hazards and 18 holes of play. The game is played on a regulation golf course to specially mowed greens with 21-inch cups. Scorecards display par scores for each hole as in regular golf. It is played in the traditional format of up to four players per group. Holes are about half the distance of a regular golf hole. Argue-Ment's 18-hole FootGolf course is integrated into its nine-hole golf layout.
According to the American FootGolf League, there are 160 accredited FootGolf courses across 32 states and just five in Wisconsin, including the one in New Glarus that opened June 12.
Jennrich said the most challenging aspect of FootGolf is getting the ball to curve when it's in tall grass.
"I think it definitely helps with your technique and kicking the ball," Jennrich said. "It helps with kicking the ball further, higher and being able to control it better."
Argue-Ment Golf Course President and co-owner Mark Renner designed the FootGolf layout and then worked with the Sugar River JV girls soccer team, who volunteered to test and refine the layout to get it ready for public play. The young athletes gave Renner the chance to see the course in action and ensure the pace of play will coincide with golf.
"I saw it in a golf magazine, and I thought we could do that," Renner said. "We want to get more people coming to the golf course. I'm certainly not a soccer player, but I have tried it out, and it really puts a smile on your face."
Players need a size 5 soccer ball and children can play with a size 4 soccer ball. Soccer cleats are not allowed on the course. Tee times can be set by contacting the Argue-Ment Golf Course.
Jennrich, like some of his soccer teammates for Sugar River, have used the FootGolf course in New Glarus as a training ground for the upcoming soccer season in the fall. FootGolf is a game growing in popularity that relies on the fundamentals of soccer and combines it with the challenge and tradition of golf.
"The one thing I really like is it doesn't matter about your skill level," Jennrich said. "It's just like golf, but instead of using golf clubs and a ball you use your foot and a soccer ball. I think there isn't really anything else like it. Golf is a sport with so many rules. FootGolf is more relaxed and more for people who like to have fun."
FootGolf is played with a regulation-size soccer ball, and uses golf's basic model including tee boxes, greens, hazards and 18 holes of play. The game is played on a regulation golf course to specially mowed greens with 21-inch cups. Scorecards display par scores for each hole as in regular golf. It is played in the traditional format of up to four players per group. Holes are about half the distance of a regular golf hole. Argue-Ment's 18-hole FootGolf course is integrated into its nine-hole golf layout.
According to the American FootGolf League, there are 160 accredited FootGolf courses across 32 states and just five in Wisconsin, including the one in New Glarus that opened June 12.
Jennrich said the most challenging aspect of FootGolf is getting the ball to curve when it's in tall grass.
"I think it definitely helps with your technique and kicking the ball," Jennrich said. "It helps with kicking the ball further, higher and being able to control it better."
Argue-Ment Golf Course President and co-owner Mark Renner designed the FootGolf layout and then worked with the Sugar River JV girls soccer team, who volunteered to test and refine the layout to get it ready for public play. The young athletes gave Renner the chance to see the course in action and ensure the pace of play will coincide with golf.
"I saw it in a golf magazine, and I thought we could do that," Renner said. "We want to get more people coming to the golf course. I'm certainly not a soccer player, but I have tried it out, and it really puts a smile on your face."
Players need a size 5 soccer ball and children can play with a size 4 soccer ball. Soccer cleats are not allowed on the course. Tee times can be set by contacting the Argue-Ment Golf Course.
