The happiness that Tiger Woods feels when he gets a hole-in-one is nothing compared to the buzz of a parent who’s finally discovered an activity that makes a hard-to-please older child happy. This summer, we’ve found it: FootGolf. York FootGolf, to be precise: a 15-hole course at Skelton, just a 10-minute drive from York. We took our sporty, football-obsessed 12-year-old along to try it, and it turned out to be a really fun way to spend time as a family. We had such a good time that we thought we’d let you know about it. Here are five reasons we’d recommend it for families in York.

1. FootGolf is a simple game that’s quick to learn

It can be hard to persuade our kids off their screens, but the suggestion of FootGolf was enticing enough to get our son up off the sofa in almost record time. As it was our first visit, we weren’t sure what to expect, but it’s very simple. York FootGolf is essentially a golf course, but instead of fiddling about with golf clubs and balls, each person has to kick their football into a large hole. As a result, it’s fun rather than frustrating and doesn’t require any special skills other than being able to kick a ball. Although we didn’t take them this time, we could have taken our two younger children (10 and 7) and they’d no doubt have enjoyed it too. Younger children might need a bit of help, or you may have to bend the rules a bit for them, but if they like running about outside and kicking a ball, there’s plenty for them to enjoy. You keep score with a scorecard; just make sure you choose someone trustworthy to keep track of the numbers!

2. It’s a good workout

There are 15 holes to complete, varying in length and difficulty to keep it interesting. It took the three of us around an hour to complete the course, going at a reasonable pace. Some of the holes were straightforward while others were more challenging: we spent a lot of time kicking the balls out of long grass and up hills, which was funny rather than frustrating. By the time we got back to the clubhouse, we definitely felt as though we’d done some exercise and got some fresh air.

3. The setting’s lovely

Set back from busy Shipton Road, the location is surprisingly peaceful and pretty. The whole place, from the clubhouse to the course itself, feels well maintained and very pleasant. We saw birds, heard the trains passing and spent more time than we should have done in the woodland and ditches!

4. You can spend a morning or afternoon there

If we’d had time, we could easily have spent another hour or two. As well as an indoor seating area, there’s a nice terrace with outdoor seating too. On a sunny day, it would be a good place to sit and relax after a game.

5. They do children’s parties

Although we’ve not tried them ourselves, we’ve heard good things from friends about the birthday parties at York FootGolf. A round of FootGolf and Domino’s pizza – what’s not to love? Our boy enjoyed our trip so much that we’re going to look into it ourselves – find out more on their website.

York FootGolf – Trip essentials

• – Parking is free
• – Toilets
• – Bar
• – Open daily during school holidays
• – Pre-booking is recommended but not essential
• – You can take your own footballs or hire them for £1 each
• – Football boots are not permitted

York FootGolf, Shipton Road, York YO30 1XW