A new footgolf course will open in Watford this month and the man driving the sport believes it is thriving because of its simplicity.

Footgolf follows the same principle as golf but is played with a football and the player’s leg rather than a golf ball and clubs. Ben Clarke, regional development manager for the UK Footgolf Association, believes the key to its success lies in the fact almost anyone can pick up the game.

He explained: “Most things related to football are appealing to most people and it is a lot easier than golf. It is a lot easier to have a quick nine holes of football than it is to play a full round of golf.

“Golf takes a lot of practice. Anyone who kicks a football around can play footgolf,” he added.

The new course at Penfold Park, which is located off the A405 and can be reached via the M1 and M25, will be the second to open in the area when it is launched early this month after Rickmansworth Golf Course incorporated a course in their existing nine-hole golf course in September.

“The facility became available and the location was too good to turn down,” said Clarke. “We are aiming to get more children into the sport and continue playing from there.

“Hopefully we will have it packed at weekends and get schools into it too. We want to increase the awareness and profile of the sport and get people taking it more seriously so it can become a ranking event.”