FootGolf World Cup bid is 'mind-blowing' for East Kilbride man

Martin McGreechin says it’s “mind-blowing” that he’s about to take part in the FootGolf World Cup in America, aged 53, but has set his sights on making the top 49 final cut.

Scotland’s senior team’s target in Orlando is to make the top three from 40 countries taking part in the competition, which runs from May 28 until June 6.

Martin and his caddy, son Kyle, 15, head out to Florida this morning (Wednesday) to acclimatise, ahead of the competition.

McGreechin, from Brancumhall, says it’s incredible to have gone from struggling to follow his son around the course to representing his country in the fast-growing sport.

UK FootGolf has always sent teams, but the nations broke away and formed their own associations, and Scotland will take part in their first World Cup under FIFG governance.

He said: “It’s mind-blowing, really, when you’re my age. I’m 53, I’m part of six seniors and there are 17 men and seven ladies.

“To be part of that six-man squad of seniors is crazy, for me at my age, to think I’m playing on an international stage for Scotland.

“Now that I’m there, realistically I would like to be in the final cut for the top 49 for the last day – that’s my goal.

“Everybody wants to win it – that’s always your goal – but realistically I want top 49 in singles, and I think we have a very strong senior team, so I would like to be up there and podium, to be in the top three.

“But there’s so much quality all over the world, like Argentina, France and Slovakia – there are a lot of good teams out there at senior level.

“It’s going to be huge, we’re playing against the best in the world, but that’s always what you want to be up against, and hopefully it will bring out the best in us.”

Martin says his FootGolf career progressed