Footgolf To Tee-Off For Second Summer In Swansea

FootGolf fans will be delighted by the news that this popular activity will continue at Ashleigh Road this year as Swansea Council announces that it will extend its contract with the operator. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sport proved a huge hit with players of all ages and abilities when it was first introduced on the former pitch and putt golf site at Ashleigh Road last year -doubling the number of visitors that the site attracted when it was a traditional 10 hole golf course. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

FootGolf is a combination of football and golf, where players use a football to aim for larger holes on the course. The changes to the Ashleigh Road site were minimal but the impact has been significant. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After signing a new deal with the Council that will run until the end of September, operator Future Golf Ventures is promising to further build on the interest in the sport that the has been generated to date. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Clive Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Transformation and Performance, said: “As a council we have had to review all our services to ensure that they are affordable and sustainable – a process that is still ongoing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Not only were we delighted to find a local operator to provide an alternative use of the site but also that it has been so successful. Since day one, FootGolf has proved a big hit and we are delighted to extend our relationship with the operator who has some very exciting plans for the coming year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This clearly demonstrates that by working in partnership with others we can help provide popular attractions and activities that are sustainable going forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City, said: “You only had to pass the Swansea FootGolf course during the summer to witness the popularity of the attraction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s exactly what Swansea needed because it gives local people and visitors to the city something different to do. What’s especially pleasing is that families and people of all ages are taking part in some healthy outdoor activity, which further reinforces Swansea’s reputation as a family-friendly destination” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Roger Maliphant, Director of Future Golf Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be extending our contract with Swansea Council to run and manage the FootGolf course in Ashleigh Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In our inaugural year, we created much interest from the local community and visitors to the area, and we are looking to build on that encouraging start into 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In 2016, we became the most popular FootGolf course in Wales on social media with over 1,650 Likes and are still the cheapest in the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year we intend to stay open from dawn until dusk during the summer months, each day of the week, as we did in 2016 and our summer prices will stay the same as last summer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​