Soccer-golf hybrid sport gaining foothold in US

In a photo from June 20, 2014 in Salem Township, Mich., Josh Maxam plays with the ball after his putt during a round of FootGolf at Fox Hills Golf Course. FootGolf, a soccer-golf hybrid is helping courses draw younger, more diverse customers. Players “tee off” _ minus the tees of course _ by kicking a soccer ball from the tee box. They follow the basic rules of golf from there, advancing the ball until it drops into the oversized hole. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) In a photo from June 20, 2014 in Salem Township, Mich., Josh Maxam plays with the ball after his putt during a round of FootGolf at Fox Hills Golf Course. FootGolf, a soccer-golf hybrid is helping courses draw younger, more diverse customers. Players “tee off” _ minus the tees of course _ by kicking a soccer ball from the tee box. They follow the basic rules of golf from there, advancing the ball until it drops into the oversized hole. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

By Associated Press June 27, 2014 3 min read

SALEM TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – Kurt Tyszkiewicz and his wife enjoy golf, and their daughters are soccer players.

On a recent weekday, the Detroit-area family played both sports at the same time, with 18 holes of FootGolf.

The soccer-golf hybrid has gained a foothold in the U.S., where officials at a number of courses say it’s helping them financially and drawing a younger and more diverse crowd.

And repeat customers.

“We’ll absolutely come back,” said Tyszkiewicz, a 44-year-old school district administrator from Canton Township, Michigan. “It was a great event for a family and a lot of fun.”