You've heard of a hole in one but what about two sports in one?

As the name suggests, Footgolf combines football and golf with players competing against each other to kick the ball into enlarged holes on a golf-style course of nine or 18 holes in the fewest shots possible.

Bell Developments Ltd has just received planning permission for a nine-hole course next to its offices at Mollington Grange, Parkgate Road, and just a stone’s throw from The Oaks, Mollington, golf course which is run by a separate company.

Footgolf is intended to have broad appeal from families with young children, to groups of friends, colleagues on morale-building away days, pub teams, school groups and local sports clubs.

Footgolf is proving very popular

The fun craze began in the Netherlands and has also proved popular in Argentina but is now sweeping the UK with around 200 venues open for business.

No special gear or sportswear is needed. And the ball can be hired from the venue.

The hope is the Chester course, which will be landscaped and incorporate a water feature running through it, could be ready by late March or early April when Chester FC players have agreed to attend a ‘soft opening’ and challenge youngsters to a game.

Tees and greens will made from artificial grass to prevent them getting churned up during wet periods so the venue can open all year round. Prices will be from £5 upwards.

Business backer Mike Bell had a game of footgolf with ex-golfing professional Martin Redrup at the weekend and beat him – but isn’t so keen to take Martin on at pure golf. Martin, the former owner of Pryors Hayes Golf Club at Tarvin, is to manage the footgolf course which will also feature a pavilion serving drinks and refreshments.

Mike said: “I’m really really excited about it. I’m passionate about sport and kids playing sport. We’ve been talking about it for about 10 months now.”

The lay-out for the Mollington Footgolf course

The long term plan is to open five or six footgolf courses across the north west with Chester as the first.

He said the company running the golf club next door operated five or six footgolf courses elsewhere but doesn’t have the space in Chester although they’re fine about his neighbouring venture.

“It will be an interesting course and there will be stream to kick the ball over,” added Mike, a Manchester United fan.

Mike says the game is popular with the 18-34 age group but commented: “Really you could play it from four-years-old, when you can first kick a ball, up to 80 years-old.”