Footgolf Jamberoo has continued to increase in popularity. Photo: Jamberoo Golf Club.
Jamberoo Golf Club found a game-changing solution to attract new players and generate revenue eight years ago by embracing footgolf – a hybrid sport combining golf and soccer.
Now, the club offers a popular nine-hole footgolf course that coexists as part of its traditional 18-hole golf layout. Footgolf has become a hit with Illawarra families, corporate groups and professional players around Australia and the world.
Incorporating footgolf was the brainchild of the club’s greenkeeper, who saw an opportunity to capitalise on the sport’s rising popularity, especially before the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional golf clubs nationally were struggling.
Footgolf Jamberoo organiser Sue Paul said the sport had become a “lifesaver” for the club, providing a steady revenue stream without overwhelming the existing golf activities.
“It was about eight years ago, the greenkeeper here saw Kiama had a trial day of it,” Sue said.
“He saw it, he went and said, ‘Sue, we’ve got to get into this’.
“This was at a time when golf clubs were all struggling, but then along came COVID and everyone started playing golf again.
“We’re mostly volunteers here at Jamberoo, except for the greens staff, so we were looking for a secondary income.
“We went ahead, did it all, and it’s turned out better than we thought it ever would.”
Sue said it was mostly designed for social competitions, and was popular for kids’ birthday parties, and buck’s and hen’s parties.
“Everyone can play it and it’s a lot of fun. Balls go underwater, all that sort of stuff,” she said, laughing.
In addition, the Jamberoo club hosts various professional competitions, along with the Footgolf Australian Open tournament – a serious competition run through Footgolf Australia, the organisation responsible for bringing it Down Under.
“They earn points for winning all around the world, and they have ratings, just like tennis,” Sue said.
She said the game was played in 48 countries, with some big money to be had, particularly in the US.
“Argentina have some of the best players in the world,” she said.
“We’ve had two Australian Opens here, so we’ve had players from Argentina, France, England, Hungary and Japan. They just love it.”
She said professional players travelled from overseas not just for the competition, but for a week-long holiday in the region and to witness the natural beauty of the course that embraces Hyams Creek and the Minnamurra River.
“When they see and hear kookaburras, they can’t get over it,” Sue said.
As it was still a golf course, she said golfers always had right of way.
“The golfers go out and play the back nine, and we’re finished by the time they come back to play the front nine,” she said.
“For us, it was a lifesaver. It makes really good money, and we don’t want it too busy because it’s still a golf course.
“The golfers are really good with it. They’ve just accepted it.”
She joked that the golfers were often keen to keep the soccer-sized holes for their small golf balls.
Despite playing with a soccer ball instead of a golf ball, she said the rules for the sport were much the same as golf.
“They have par fours, par fives and par threes, just like golf, and if you’re out of bounds you add extra points,” Sue said.
“The ones that are serious, they are really good because they study the line and look where it’s going to roll. It’s amazing, actually.”
Sue said the game also attracted many soccer players, with different types of players enjoying different aspects of the sport.
“If they’re soccer players, it’s amazing because they get competitive. They want to beat who they’re playing with,” she said.
“The families that come, they want to get competitive too. Dads always have to win,” she added, laughing.
“But it’s just good fun, and that’s what I love about it.
“I’ve never had anyone walk off and say, ‘I hated that’. Everyone loves it and has a laugh.”
Sue said it was particularly appealing to young kids and people with disability because the course was flat, and it was gaining in popularity for corporate days as it offered a great bonding experience.
Despite attracting regular competitions, Jamberoo hadn’t put together its own competitive team, instead choosing for it to remain a social sport.
“We just find that it works better for us and the golfers if we keep it social, and we have enough competitions for local players during the year that they come and play in those particular comps,” Sue said.
At 73 years of age, Sue is now looking to pass on the organising role to someone else.
Learn more about Footgolf Jamberoo here.
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