TO meet demand, a permanent venue in the local area for the world of football golf has been created.

Prudhoe resident Graeme Watson had ran taster sessions throughout the Tyne Valley as he developed his Kick Golf UK brand, but the buzz he created almost immediately extinguished as no follow-up event could be planned due to a lack of facilities.

However, he has now been able to set up a permanent base for his venture at Vallum Farm, just off the Military Road, enabling people wanting to sink a few holes while kicking the football around whenever they please.

Graeme said: "I couldn't get venues fast enough and people were wanting to play again soon after one of our sessions. People were buzzing after doing it but that would die down because of the lack of a venue.

"People were asking when the next session was and I couldn't give them an answer. This venue is great and allows people to just turn up and play when they want."

A former player with Stocksfield, Graeme decided to develop a football golf business after being ruled out of playing through injury.

He still wanted to keep active and be competitive in some way, and Kick Golf, to him, appeared the best of both worlds.

Already proving a hit with people in the district, the sport is open to all members of the family whether at a recreational level, while Graeme is also investigating the possibility of running regular competitions and weekly leagues.

He said: "There are a few sides to it and you can have lots of fun with the family and have a nice day out, but it is also good as a team building exercise for businesses and the like.

"I'm crocked so it allows me to continue to play some form of football, and slightly older people can still get out with four or five of their mates and have a competitive game.

"It's also good for football clubs as it helps develop people's technical ability when striking a football and finding a range of passes."

The Kick Golf brand differs from other football golf companies as the holes to putt the balls in aren't dug into the ground, Graeme having developed portable, fibre glass holes. There is no damage caused to the surface where the holes are placed.

This allows the course to be changed about if necessary to meet people's abilities, but also presents the opportunity to take the sport on the road to organisations across the region.

In addition to providing chances for people to play football golf locally, Graeme is also running some football training sessions through the sport and has set up areas for head tennis and a kicking cage so people can monitor how hard they can kick the ball.