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JACKSON COUNTY DEBUT Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Footgolf gives players a new way to get around the links Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Mar 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Mar 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM » RELATED CONTENT What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   • Stormy weather for footgolf kick-off day » Social News The budding sport of footgolf — a blend of soccer and golf — got its local kickoff Friday when Oak Knoll Golf Course opened up four holes for a day of free play. It was a chill and mellow experience for players, who came from the full age range of 7 to 77 and indicated they were thankful not to have the constant running of soccer or the complexity of golf. All you do is boot a standard soccer ball on the rough part of the course, using long shots to get to the “green,” then “finessy” shots, as player Lin Robbins called them, to sink the “putt” into a 21-inch wide hole. “It’s a blast, though I can see we have a lot of improvement ahead. It’s easier without having a team running against you,” said Robbins who, with her husband, Judd Robbins, played professional soccer in Nevada. She won by two strokes and the pair ended up five or six over par. Par is 3 to 5 strokes on each hole. The break-in first hole took them 10 strokes. “I can see this game easily expanding in this country,” said Judd Robbins. “It’s a fun endeavor.” If the four holes of foot golf, also called soccer-golf, catches on, the course can be expanded to 18 holes, just like the golf. It will be played in the rough where manager Tom Cronin expects players of both sports won’t interfere much with each other. Friday’s game was the first footgolf game played in Jackson County, Oak Knoll staff say, though there is an 18-hole course at Dutcher Creek Golf Course in Grants Pass, which they’ve played. The game can be played with two holes, off to the side, for every one golf hole and fairway. “I love it,” says Oak Knoll Recreation Superintendent Rachel Dials, who admits being “horrible” at golf. “This game helps us get more people out here doing more multi-use recreation.” As staffers scratched their heads about how to create a 21-inch wide “cup,” Dials said, they stumbled on some curved lamp covers exactly that diameter and pressed them into use immediately. Finishing his first round, Richard Seidman, a big soccer fan, said he’s read about how the sport is catching on and was happy to see it’s starting here, though he was two over par on every hole. “I don’t play golf and have never been out here to Oak Knoll, but I’m amazed how beautiful it is,” he said. “It’s great to kick a ball and be outside.” No one’s going to get out of breath playing footgolf, the players conceded, but that’s on the plus-side, said Seidman, making it appealing to kids, older folks and everyone in between — and they can all play it at the same time, as partners. It would be great for birthday parties, too. The free, introductory event enabled Britney Bain to bring her kids, as the first children to ever play the game in Jackson County. “It’s pretty fun,” said Zyan Shull-Bain. “Warm and no wind. This is going to be a fun beginning.” The game of footgolf appears to have originated in the Netherlands in 2008. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Mar 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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