by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph residents may soon get a kick on the course with a mixture of golf and soccer called footgolf. Players use their legs as golf clubs, and soccer balls take the place of golf balls. And the holes? They’re nearly two-feet wide.
“We had heard of the success of footgolf at Angushire [golf club in St. Cloud], and wanted to bring it to St. Joseph,” said city council member Matt Killam in a Newsleader interview. “It’s a nice way for kids, young adults and families to get outside.”
Angushire Golf Club has Minnesota’s first 18-hole permanent footgolf course.
Killam brought up the concept to the Park Board, which he serves on, and they were on board with the concept. Public Works Director Terry Thene has also been working with Killam on bringing footgolf to Northland Park.
Northland was chosen because of it’s large open space. Also, many park amenities in St. Joseph are south of Hwy 75, except Millstream, so the board thought it would be a good place for a new amenity. Northland will also soon have paved entrance ways, once road construction in the area is finished.
Killam says he and Thene have already marked off where all six of the footgolf holes would be. Thene is working on acquiring 21-inch pipe for the holes, which would be one of the main expenses for the project though Killam hopes to have the pipe donated. They will also need rocks to put at the bottom of each hole, flag markers, stakes for teeing off and a map of the locations which will probably be on a board like those found at frisbee golf courses.
There are three Par 3 holes, two Par 4 holes and one Par 5 hole.
The next step is to work with local organizations like the Jaycees and Lions on securing funding. Killam thinks the entire project could be done for under $1,000. They are considering looking for donations from businesses or groups for $200/hole, which would allow the group to have their name on a sign at the hole. The footgolf course has already received one donation for a hole from Central Minnesota Credit Union.
They will also be looking for volunteers to help dig the holes. If anyone would like to volunteer or donate, they can contact Matt Killam at mkillam@cityofstjoseph.com or by phone at 612-245-4652.
Killam expects to have made some good strides by the end of August.
“We’d like to have the course running by fall . . . it will be nice to have something interactive and ahead of the curve in St. Joseph for families to do,” Killam said.
Council member Matt Killam lives in the Northland area and believes, along with the Park Board, a footgolf course would greatly benefit families and young people in St. Joseph. Killam is working with Public Works Director Terry Thene to get the course at Northland Park.
The footgolf course in Northland Park will have six holes: three Par 3 holes, two Par 4 holes and one Par 5 hole. The next step for the project is to secure funding, possibly from local charitable organizations, businesses and group donations.
