Craig Willinger Memorial FootGolf Course

At Carroll Park

FootGolf players can book a tee time to play, just like golfers.

Click Here to book a tee time online. Reservations for fewer than four (4) FootGolf players may be grouped with other FootGolf players to create a foursome. Once you have logged in, reserve your time at Carroll Park, like you are reserving a golf tee time. You will be charged the appropriate FootGolf fees at the golf course.

FootGolf tee times can also be booked by contacting the Carroll Park Golf Course at 410-685-8344.

Directions

From The Inner Harbor

Take Lombard St. and make a left at Martin Luther King Blvd., Go two blocks to and make a right on Washington Blvd. Continue on Washington Blvd. past the Montgomery Park office building and train tracks. Entrance to golf course is on your right between two stone pillars.

From East Baltimore County and Harford County

Take I-95 South through the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Continue South and take the Downtown exit; stay to your right and take the Martin Luther King Blvd. exit. At the traffic light (Washington Blvd.), make a left turn. Continue on Washington Blvd. past the Montgomery Park office building and train tracks. Entrance to golf course is on your right between two stone pillars.

From Northwest Baltimore City

Take Monroe St. and make a right onto Washington Blvd. Continue on Washington Blvd. past the Montgomery Park office building and train tracks. Entrance to golf course is on your right between two stone pillars.

From Northeast Baltimore City

Take Northern Parkway to I-83 South (which turns into Presidents St.). Make a right turn onto Lombard St. and follow that until you reach Martin Luther King Blvd. where you will make a left turn. In two blocks, make a right turn onto Washington Blvd. Continue on Washington Blvd. past the Montgomery Park office building and train tracks. Entrance to golf course is on your right between two stone pillars.

From Towson

Take I-695 (outer lane) towards Glen Burnie. Take the downtown exit to I-95 North. Follow I-95 North to Exit 51 (Washington Blvd.). At Washington Blvd., make a left at the bottom of the ramp and go under the bridge. At the end of the island (on your left), make a left turn between the two stone pillars.

From From South of Baltimore City

Take I-95 North to Exit 51 (Washington Blvd.). At Washington Blvd., make a left at the bottom of the ramp and go under the bridge. At the end of the island (on your left), make a left turn between the two stone pillars.

Rain Check Policy

All players are eligible to receive a percentage of their playing fees depending on the number of holes played in the form of a Rain Check should inclement weather prevent a player from finishing their round. Rain Checks can only be redeemed at the golf course where they were issued and are valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Rain Checks cannot be replaced if they are lost or stolen. Greens and carts fees pre-purchased online through Golf Now’s Hot Deals are not eligible for Rain Checks.

 

Contact Information

Carroll Park Golf Course
2100 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230

Pro Shop: 410-685-8344

Craig Willinger

Craig Willinger was a Highlandtown native and proud Archbishop Curley High School alum. In March 2007 at the age of 37, Craig’s life was turned upside down by a diagnosis of stage IV chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Told he would likely have less than seven years, Craig’s girlfriend, Johanna Agueda, thought he needed something really big to inspire him to fight and, knowing Craig so well, it would involve soccer.

In the summer of 2008, a conversation among strangers at a Baltimore pub sparked the idea that Craig’s family was dreaming of. Moved by Craig’s story, members of the Liverpool FC Supporters Club decided to raise funds to send him to see his beloved Bayern Munich play at their home stadium in Germany.

Craig was so inspired by the generosity of others and from his own once-in-a-lifetime experience that on his return trip from Germany he asked, “Why not for someone else?” With that idea, the Craig Willinger Fund (CWFund) was born. Although still dealing with his own chronic and terminal cancer diagnosis, he put all his energy towards fulfilling the dreams of other soccer fans fighting the same battle. Since 2010, CWFund honorees have traveled to South Africa, Barcelona, Milan, London, Madrid, New York City, Manchester, and Brazil, including worldclass events like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League Final.

On February 15, 2012, Craig Willinger passed away from complications related to a bone marrow transplant. Craig’s dream of delivering hope and inspiration to young soccer fans stricken with cancer remains the inspiration and mission of the Craig Willinger Fund and lives through his family, friends, soccer fans, and CWFund honorees united by the knowledge that the ‘beautiful game’ can fuel inspiration, passion, determination, and love. Learn more at cwfund.org.

FootGolf at Carroll Park

Goal – To get the ball from the designated starting areas into the hole in as few kicks as possible.

Pace of Play – Do not cut in front of, delay, or interfere with regular play. Target pace is 2 hours.

Golf Putting Greens – If a ball lands on a putting green surface, the player must take free relief no closer to the FootGolf hole. FootGolf players may not play from the golf putting greens at any time.

Carts – Do not drive golf cars over: teeing areas, sand bunkers, greens, inside any restricted areas

Kick off your ball from a position up to two yards behind the tee markets.

The ball must be played in a single movement. You are not allowed to push the ball with the top or bottom of your foot. Your foot should be set separate from the ball, clearly behind, before each kick.

Wait to play until the ball has completely come to rest. (It is not legal to stop the ball from rolling with the wind).

Play the ball from where it lies: You are not allowed to move the ball or remove jammed objects. Exception: You may mark the spot and lift the ball when it may obstruct the other player’s kick or ball in any way.

The player farthest from the hole is the first to kick the ball.

The order of play is established based on the score of the previous hole. The player with the best score will kick off first on the next hole followed by the second, etc.

What is FootGolf
The Game

FootGolf is a precision sport, a combination of the popular sports of soccer and golf, being more closely related to golf. The rules largely correspond to the rules of golf and players kick a regulation #5 soccer ball at a golf course facility on shortened holes with 21-inch diameter cups in as few shots as possible.

The Course

FootGolf is played on golf courses only.

Uniform

Since the game is played on a golf course, the basic uniform of FootGolf is golf apparel, with indoor or turf soccer shoes.

The Ball

The ball must be a soccer ball #5. No rubber ball or any other than a regulation #5 soccer ball, similar to FIFA Approved.

History

The origins of FootGolf are unclear as they can be attributed to many countries or people at the same time, as early as 2001. The first nine-hole FootGolf tournament on a golf course, and played as the sport as it’s known today, was organized in the Netherlands in 2008 by Michael Jansen and Bas Korsten, and played by a mix of Dutch and Belgian professional footballers.

Jansen learned of the sport from Dutch footballer Willem Korsten, who recalled playing a similar game during his time with British club Tottenham Hotspur, who would end training sessions by kicking the ball from the pitch back to the changing rooms in as short a time as possible. Later Belgium and Hungary switched from playing in parks to golf courses and the game was introduced to Argentina in 2010.

The game was internationally publicized, and countries worldwide started collaborating on the development of the game. FootGolf has been recognized or is in the process of being recognized as a sport in many countries. The American FootGolf League was founded in 2011.

FootGolf in the United States

The American FootGolf League as the governing body for the sport of FootGolf in the United States has grown the game to nearly 500 courses in 48 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, since 2011. Over 150 golf courses nationwide have added FootGolf in 2015 alone. Golf facilities can be Accredited and Certified with the AFGL receiving guidance in course design and the standards for the distances for par. Certified courses have the opportunity to host a state and/or regional qualifiers. These tournaments lead into a state or regional championship that will feed into the national championship. The home course of the AFGL, Desert Willow Golf Resort will be the host of the National Championship in November, 2016.

Governance

FootGolf as a game has been played around the world since 2001, but as a sport it is regulated by for Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG) since June 2012.

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