Foot golf tees off in Fredericton

The Carman Creek golf club in Fredericton says it has Atlantic Canada's first foot-golf course.

Foot golf isa combination of golf and soccer, imported from Europe, said owner Terry Avery.

It's very similar to golf, but players use a soccer ball instead of a golf ball and a 21-inch cup instead of a four-inch one, he said.

Seventeen countries play foot golf, butthegameis new to North America this year, said Avery. A course opened in Muskoka, Ont. in June and there are threein the United States, he said.

The course opened on Friday and 20 anxious members of the Fredericton District Soccer Association braved torrential rains to give it a try, said Avery.

"They stood around for about two hours before they could go out because of thunder and lightning. But they went out in that rain and they played in the rain," he said.

"There wasn't a golfer on our golf course. Golfers don't play in the rain. But soccer players do. So it's great that way."

Foot golf uses the same basic etiquette as regular golf so players can tee off one after the other, he said.

Avery had previously looked into setting upfrisbee golf, but decided foot golf was cheaper and easier to try.

"All we did was near or beside our regular greens we mowed separate greens," he said.

"I mean, they're not built to USGA specifications, with the drainage and the sand. They're just mowed off to the sides of the regular greens."