Footgolf is a sport on the rise in Spain. It has been gaining followers for some time now and, although it is not yet at the organizational level of other countries, it is at a competitive level. In 2018 he participated in his first World Cup and, now, he has made history by achieving runner-up status in Europe in both the men’s and women’s categories. Only Spain presented both teams in the final. The final victory eluded both of them, but it speaks volumes about how much this new sport is growing in our country.
Spain, double European runner-up in footgolfMARCA
The European Championship that was just held in Antalya (Turkey) had 16 teams in the style of a football European Championship: four groups of four teams, the first two qualify for the quarterfinals and from there, a knockout until there is a champion. Spain started among the favorites in the men’s category and won the final against Slovakia, one of the great powers that had left the world champion, France, in the gutter, pushing it to the limit to obtain victory.
The men’s footgolf team celebrates the runner-up positionFIFG
Today, Europe is the epicenter of footgolf, and both countries stand out as references. In Slovakia the sport is now official and players receive financial support and in France there is a solid organizational structure that has attracted numerous practitioners, including former professional footballers. Its biggest star is Camel Meriem, a former international and former player for clubs such as Girondins, Marseille and Monaco.
The girls already have Honors. With only four representatives, which is the minimum to be able to participate, it eliminated countries with more tradition and that were in Antalya with a full team. For example, the boys went with 16 representatives including the senior team. In the final, only the French were able to beat Rebeca Domingo, Lucia Bernuz, Lorena Rodel and Esther Montiel.
The women’s footgolf team with their runners-up medalsFIFG
No official federation
This has been the fourth European of a sport that emerged in 2009 that, in certain countries, already has its own federation. In Spain that does not happen. Right now there is an unofficial federation and what they are trying to achieve is to join the golf federation because, as Piero Menor, one of the best Spanish players, defines, “this is 90% golf and 10% soccer.”
Going into the women’s final of the EuropeanFIFG
However, this process faces resistance. Some traditional golfers see footgolf as an intrusion into their space, since both sports share the same courses. Piero, however, sees it as an opportunity: “Look at what’s happening with pickleball. The United States Tennis Federation ‘missed’ including it at the beginning and now they have their own federation and it is growing at a brutal rate.” In Spain it did come under the umbrella of tennis, but relatively recently.
In addition, Menor believes that footgolf can benefit traditional golf. “Many footballers who try footgolf end up also becoming interested in golf. It is a feedback between both sports,” he says.
Tee shot in the men’s tournamentFIFG
While countries like England and Argentina already have exclusive courses for footgolf, in Spain they still depend on conventional golf courses, which usually allow specific times to practice it. The only change necessary on these courses is the size of the hole, adapted to fit a soccer ball and never touching the green so as not to damage it.
Although this transition takes time, footgolf continues to gain popularity, driven by its own circuit and a classification that allows players to compete representing the national team.
The importance of the ball
Within this entire ecosystem, the ball used draws powerful attention. The game tool is a traditional soccer ball. And never better said, because there is a tendency to use spheres that are almost relics. The ones they use the most are Adidas, which were created approximately between 2006 and 2012. “We use the Teamgeist from the 2006 World Cup, the Europass from 2008 and, above all, the Jabulani.” Yes, the ball from the World Cup in South Africa that caused so much talk at the time due to the supposed effects it generated and which put goalkeepers in trouble. Piero explains the reason for using these very old balls: “They are light and run a lot and do not take a thread, which is not a very good thing in footgolf. “They allow for one more golf shot with the inside of the boot.”
Women’s European Final, with a JabulaniFIFG
However, getting these balls is not an easy task. “They are difficult to find, and those who own one have seen the business and ask a fortune for them,” says Piero. But there is light in all this. Piero has managed to get a Jabulani-style ball replicated in Malaysia in exchange for sponsoring it. “There will end up being exclusive balls for footgolf,” he ventures to say.
A sport with its own technique
Although most players come from soccer, adapting to footgolf requires a change in technique. “It’s like the tennis player who starts playing paddle tennis. It is a racket sport the same, but the type of shot is different and either you adapt or you have nothing to do. Well, in footgolf it is the same,” explains Piero.
And that adaptation takes time. Either you have relative patience or frustration appears. Even if you have been a professional footballer. Let them tell Christian Vieri. The former player for teams like Juventus, Atleti and Inter Milan tried the new sport. At the third hole he quit angrily. The frustration of not being able to pocket the ball as easily as he thought. Something similar happened to Musampa.
Some of the shots necessary to play footgolf well.PIERO MENOR
Even so, there is no doubt that you need a football base to be able to play. “If you don’t have a touch of the ball it is complicated. That’s the first thing. Then comes the question of adapting the technique,” explains Piero.
Spain has his figure and he was also a soccer professional. He is Carlos Calvo, who played for clubs such as Huesca, Cádiz, Getafe, Granada and Almería. He is the reference, in addition to the president of that federation who is not yet official. Along with him, in addition to Piero Menor, 14 other heroes have participated: Noé Cortiñas, Javier Abreu, Borja Calvo, Sergio Plaza, Sergio Cardoso, Arthur Ayral, Jaime Puerto, Álvaro Almodovar, Rubén Garres, Iván Abreu, Sandro Rodríguez, Cherre Bello , Eduard González and Abisay Padilla. They, along with the girls, have made history in Antalya. But they haven’t hit their ceiling yet. This has only just begun.
