A NEW sport, which is continuing to make a huge impact across the world, is set to come to Weymouth in the near future.

Footgolf has become a big hit in countries such as the Nether-lands and Germany, and has now started to filter into the UK, with leagues having already been set up in Hampshire and Yorkshire.

As a result, Weymouth Golf Club is now looking to launch the new craze in Dorset with an eight-hole fun event already in the pipeline.

Footgolf is played on golf courses and has the same rules and etiquette as golf, but is played with a football instead.

Its origins are unknown but its conversion to a full-fledged sport occurred in the Netherlands where the rules were standardised and the game was internationally publicised.

Since then, countries worldwide have been collaborating on the development of the game following the creation of the Intern-ational FootGolf Association in 2009.

The Federation for Internation-al FootGolf was then established in June 2012 and is now recognised as the sport’s main governing body.

The first Footgolf World Cup was held two years ago and involved players from Hungary, Argentina, Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico and USA.

The event took place at the Kisoroszi Golf Course in Budapest and saw 80 competitors play 36 holes over two days. The competition ended with Hungarian Béla Lengyel being crowned the first world champion.

Several world-class footballers have also tried their hand at the sport, including Frank de Boer, Ruud Gullit, Roy Makaay, Jose Luis Chilavert, Juan Sebastian Veron, Jean-Pierre Papin and Christian Karembeu.

Weymouth Golf Club wishes to hear from anyone interested in taking up Footgolf, along with any sports teams that would like to be a part of the launch event, which will take place on a Sunday afternoon in the coming weeks.

Participants will be able to play in two, three or four-balls and, as well as an individual competition, there will also be a six-man team event, with prizes on offer for both.

The entry fee will be just £10 per person, which includes a pie and a drink in the bar afterwards.

To find out more, contact Des Lochrie and his Weymouth Pro Shop team on 773997.

Alternatively send an email to des.lochrie@foremostgolf.com Further details about the sport are also available at ukfootgolf. com