Youth organisation, HYPE Merseyside, will officially launch its new community footgolf course on Coastal Drive in New Brighton on Sunday, August 3.
The course will be opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Brian Kenny, with HYPE Merseyside’s young people and volunteers, who have helped to transform the site.
More than 152 volunteers from seven schools and three youth groups have supported the site’s development since May 2024, as part of HYPE’s social action projects.
The unused six-acre site was home to the former ‘Pitch and Putt’ course.
The sport requires no special skills and is a mix of football and golf, but instead of using a club and golf ball, participants kick a football into oversized holes in as few shots as possible.
To take advantage of the hundreds of free game slots available, people simply have to register via the HYPE Footgolf website. Once open to the public, games will cost £5 for children under 16 and £10 for adults. Free bike hire will continue to run every Sunday through the summer holidays for Hype Urban Bike members, who need to bring along ID to enjoy a two-hour ride.
As part of the opening day celebrations, HYPE will also be providing free bike hire with, with bikes for all ages available, from balance bikes for children to adult bicycles.
Further year-round activities planned for the site following its official opening will include repairs and adult group cycle sessions, alongside bike hire and footgolf, to encourage people to get outside and active, and will cater to people of all ages and abilities.
Matthew Houghton from HYPE Merseyside said: “Our vision for this site was to take a neglected, empty space, reclaim it for public use. At HYPE we are passionate about bringing back green spaces to engage our children and young people in positive activities, it’s something we’ve been doing since 2016.
“Like many residents who have spoken to us during the project’s development, I have happy memories of spending the holidays with friends and family down on the chip and putt course and we believe that our footgolf course will bring that back to our waterfront, allowing families to make memories together, one kick at a time,
“Not only will this allow families and people of all ages and abilities to get active and improve their health through a fun activity, our bike hire, adult cycle sessions and maintenance workshops will help to get people cycling and learn valuable skills, supporting efforts to boost active travel across in Wirral and across the Liverpool City Region.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of Wirral Borough Council, the LCR Combined Authority, or our amazing young people and volunteers who have worked so hard to make our vision a reality, and we are truly grateful for everything they have done.
“This is just the first stage for our site. We are now looking forward to what is possible in the next five years, and we have ambitious plans to make Wirral Coastal Leisure Park a place for the people and for our region’s health and wellbeing.
“We look forward to working with the local community, our young people and team, the council and combined authority to fulfil our vision to bring people together and provide access to healthy activities for all.”