Footgolf and the Jabulani: a second life for ‘the worst ball I’ve seen in my life’

The infamous Jabulani, created for the 2010 World Cup, is now footgolf’s ball of choice and going for upwards of £500 About once a month, Ben Clarke, the world’s leading footgolfer, carefully pumps up his collection of coveted Adidas Jabulani footballs. Like most elite players, C

The infamous Jabulani, created for the 2010 World Cup, is now footgolf’s ball of choice and going for upwards of £500 About once a month, Ben Clarke, the world’s leading footgolfer, carefully pumps up his collection of coveted Adidas Jabulani footballs. Like most elite players, Clarke possesses an extensive array of balls, all of which require regular inflation to prevent degradation, even those sitting pristine in their original boxes, unsullied by a single boot. Footballs are prime currency in a niche sport that tasks players with kicking one around a course, and into 18 oversized holes, in as few strokes as possible.

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