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Soccer-golf hybrid sport gaining foothold in US

By WTOP Staff

MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press

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.”

His family’s inaugural FootGolf round was played at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center in nearby Salem Township, which started offering the sport at its Strategic Fox par-3 course in May.

Fox Hills added larger FootGolf holes — 21 inches in diameter — but other than that, the course looks the same.

The rules are largely the same as well.

Players tee off by kicking a soccer ball from the tee box. They follow the basic rules of golf, advancing the ball until it drops into the oversized hole.

What is different is who’s playing.

Most FootGolfers who play at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California, are “teens, kids, 20-somethings — heavier on the Hispanic side — lots of families,” said Mike Woods, PGA director of golf at Haggin Oaks, which started offering FootGolf last summer.

“It’s kind of everything golf’s not,” in terms of demographics, Woods said. “And we’re really happy about that.”

Haggin Oaks averages 700 to 1,000 FootGolf rounds per month at its Arcade Creek course. Comparatively, Arcade Creek hosts 3,000 to 4,000 golf rounds over the same period.

“This year, (FootGolf) will have about a $75,000 positive impact on our bottom line,” said Woods. He said an informal survey of players at the first hole shows that 60 percent of FootGolfers never had been to a golf course before.

The uptick in FootGolf interest domestically can be traced to 2011 when Roberto Balestrini founded the American FootGolf League, which is the governing body for the sport in the U.S.

The Palm Springs, California-based AFGL has accredited 160 courses in 32 states and does so at no charge.

FootGolfers bring a different energy to the course, said Woods, who added that it’s not unusual to see them high-fiving after a big shot or doing cartwheels down the fairway.

While there were no acrobatic maneuvers involved, a threesome playing behind the Tyszkiewiczes at Fox Hills generated excitement during their round.

When 20-year-old Josh Maxam’s long, winding putt found the bottom of the cup, his two playing partners roared.

“That was money,” Philip Taucher yelled, referring to his friend’s birdie putt.

But Taucher, the clubhouse manager for Fox Hills’ FootGolf course, just as easily could have been referencing the financial impact FootGolf has had during its month-and-a-half stay.

“It’s changed our business. … Eventually, everybody is going to see this is a win-win,” he said.

___

Online:

American FootGolf League: http://www.footgolf.net

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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