Folf

See Disc Golf for another type of "Folf".

Folf is a version of golf played by kicking a football (soccer ball) to various predetermined objects, such as benches, posts or public bins.

Although various modifications on the rules and name of the sport exist, the term Folf usually refers to the game that was originated in London, on Wimbledon Common. In this version of the game players take alternate shots using a single volleyball until they come into contact the given target. As is the case in golf, each hole is given a par, usually 3,4 or 5, however, some par 7s are also known to exist (e.g. 'Squaresville' on Cannizaro Folf Course). It is a team game in which two (or sometimes more) people will combine their shots on each hole to compete with the par of the course. In regular game-play the aim is to score under par, effectively 'beating' the course. However, the game can also be played with multiple competing teams consisting of any given number of people, although usually two-a-side. In this version, referred to as 'Team Folf', the team with the lowest score wins, and the players on the losing team are commonly required to buy the winning players a pint of Beer. Most defined courses are played over 18 holes, although some 9 hole courses do exist. As the sport can be played in a variety of different locations (though usually in areas such as grassland or forests) it is almost certain that unknown courses have been created throughout the UK, and some internationally.

Courses

Some notable courses in the UK include Rushmere Pond, The Predator, Richmond Park, Cannizaro, Dorset Uphill Cowpat Challenge, and London DistUrbance.

Rushmere Pond was the first ever defined Folf Course and is located near Rushmere Pond on Wimbledon Common. Although widely regarded as the easiest of the courses it is also commonly agreed to be one of the best. It is common practice to play this course very early in the morning. According to rumour, this was a result of the area of Wimbledon Common surrounding Rushmere Pond being too crowded during the day to play on.

The Predator is the closest neighboring course to Rushmere Pond and, in contrast, is that most feared by Folfers. When playing the back nine of the course, players must navigate through unforgiving terrain around obstacles such as overgrowing trees and plants. When played in Winter months this is seen as the ultimate Folfing challenge and gaining a score even remotely close to par is impressive. Many Folfing enthusiasts claim that scores obtained here during dry weather are meaningless. This is because the effect of mud on the ball and shoes during wet weather is often a player's greatest hindrance.

This course is usually played at the end of The London Open as the notorious difficulty of the back nine holes is the point where particularly low scoring rounds are commonly destroyed, frequently causing significant emotional distress.

London DistUrbance is located in the area between South Bank and Waterloo station in London, and is invariably played between midnight and sunrise the following day. The course stretches across concrete paths and down steps and runs alongside the River Thames, and for this reason would be impossible to play during the day due to pedestrian traffic. During the course players will notice the Millennium Wheel, one of the course's pins is located at the foot of the wheel. This course is the subject of much criticism as many claim that it is too impractical and causes a danger to both those playing it and nearby civilians. One hole on the course even forces players to drive the ball over a busy main road onto a small patch of grass on the other side. By playing the course, competitors are knowingly subjecting themselves to a sleepless night, raising issues about it being the source of sleeping disorders for those who play it too frequently, trying unsuccessfully to improve their scores. When played in the winter months the course is even more merciless as many of the holes consist of playing through micro-climates between the surrounding buildings, resulting in dramatically increased wind speeds.

Other Folf Scorecards

There are some sub sectors of the sport Folf that have been known to have sprung up in the souther parts of england, to be more precise the home counties ( Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire ). this side quest so to speak, of the orignal folf consists of a football ( soccer ball ) and bats. the main principal is excatly the same as golf, you have a place to Tee off and destanation to reach. when you have hit your ball you go and stand when it landed and kick the ball back to the next player, you stand still and shove your bat into the ground marking excatle the location in wich your ball landed. This continues until the ball reaches its flag ( not aucctually a flag ususally a ditch, empty school swimming pool etc . . . or what ever you deem useable as a marker).

As stated above bats are used in this modern folf, these bats can be anything you like accept something that is allready a bat for instance golf club or cricket bat. Amoung the top folfers the main bat of choice is shelving bracket or branch from a near by tree, the beauty in the sport is usually found in the history of ones bat rather than aucctually playing golf. The best place to find folfing bats are usually skips or brown field sies.

There are only two ways to hit your bat in folf, the standard wack shot or the dreaded Ukranian miner. The latter of the shots is an extreemly skilled and precise shot to pull off. It involves the folfer getting down on all fours and placing the folf bat inder the ball, then with an allmightey shove lifting the ball into the air. This shot is perfect for clearing fences, people or any other tall obsticles you may find yourself folfing around.

There are only 3 known folf courses in use at this present time, Verulam school playing field (only after dark ) No mans land and the smallest of all courses "the Blasberg garden".

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