Football Golf Is a Real Thing

Two of the world's biggest sports, together in perfect harmony. Yes: FootGolf is here and it's going to take over the world.

It's golf, but playing with a football being kicked from tee to hole in discrete shots on a full-size golf course (no football boots allowed though). Size 5 footballs are the standard, and the holes are obviously bigger (it would be a bit difficult otherwise). Otherwise, it adheres primarily to the rules of golf.

The sport has actually existed in a formal way since 2009 when the International FootGolf Assocation was established, but it's only in the last year that it has really gathered speed, with the Federation for International FootGolf becoming the de facto governing body in December 2013. The first World Cup was held in Hungary in 2012, with Béla Lengyel becoming the inaugral winner - the Uruguay of FootGolf if you will.

Now, courses are springing up all over the US and the UK is joining in too. 26 courses are currently up and running in the US, with a further 34 due to open in 2014. In the UK, there are 22 (some 9 hole, some 18), with more to come this year.

Somewhere out there will be a combination of Tiger Woods and Cristiano Ronaldo - and that person will rule FootGolf for years to come.

Follow the latest news via the UK FootGolf Twitter and by visiting the UK FootGolf website.

(Images: FootGolf Cherry Island/UK FootGolf)