Philippines FootGolf debut draws 32 teams, eyes full 40-team field

More than 32 teams have already signed up for the Philippines’ first-ever FootGolf Tournament, and that number changes the story before the first ball is kicked. A debut event at Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna, could have looked like a novelty. Instead, it is shaping up as a real demand test, with organizers still targeting a full 40-team field for Sunday’s launch.

That matters because FootGolf is not being introduced here as a one-off exhibition. The tournament will start with a double-barrel sequential tee-off at 8 a.m., a setup that signals a field big enough to require serious scheduling. It will be split into Open, College and High School divisions, with teams of four in a co-ed format and the best three scores counting toward the total. Junior players will play nine holes, while the high school, college and open divisions will go 18. That structure gives the event a wider base than a casual adult outing and puts schools and football clubs at the center of the sport’s first local push.

The venue choice strengthens the case that this is a launch, not a stunt. Caliraya Springs offers a Graham Marsh-designed layout, and golf director Garry Viajante, a former collegiate football player, saw early that space was the sport’s biggest obstacle in the Philippines. Many golf courses are already crowded, he said, which is exactly why FootGolf has to prove it can live inside existing infrastructure without trampling on regular golf. Viajante also tapped University of the Philippines Los Baños and National University varsity coach Ryan Payson to help steer the local rollout, an important signal that the sport wants an immediate grassroots path, not just a showcase for curious spectators.

The roster already hints at that wider reach. The National U Ladies Football Club, UPLB Men’s Football Team, PEREF SouthRidge, Kampilan, Cherry Turf, Inter Manila, 202 Brigade, Lumban Police, Cavinti Police, SAF, Acquire Football Club, CSGSI Caddies Kids and Viloria are among the teams listed for the tournament. Backing has also come from Atlanta Land Corp, Caliraya Springs Golf Club Inc., Mountainlake Resort, Life Wave Philippines, Aquaterra Integrated Solutions Inc., Broadwide Industrial Trading, Integra RE Corporation, AdCon Energy, the Province of Laguna and the Municipality of Cavinti.

FootGolf is governed internationally by the Federation for International FootGolf, which says the game uses a standard size 5 soccer ball and a 21-inch cup on modified golf courses or dedicated layouts. The modern sport was organized internationally in 2012, and its World Championship field has grown from 79 players from eight countries in Hungary to 972 players from 39 countries in the United States in 2023. If Caliraya Springs fills up, the Philippines will not just be hosting a first. It will be laying down the first proof that FootGolf has a domestic lane to grow.