FootGolf implementation Cancel The title field is required!

1. Thomas Brown

   

   0 posts
   
   4/30/2014 10:04 AM

   Hey Guys! If those of you who have a footgolf track in place could provide me with some do's and don'ts regarding course set up, auger verses hand digging cups, size of "green space", H.O.C., in fairways or exclusive to rough, etc. I would greatly appreciate it. My kit finally arrived and there's pressure to get it out right away and I don't want to do things twice.
   
   Thanks! Tom

   
   
   
   
2. Thomas Brown

   

   0 posts
   
   5/5/2014 6:05 AM

   Oh well! It looks like it's going to be trial and error.

   
   
   
   
3. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   5/5/2014 7:05 AM

   Tom,
   I sent you an email.

   
   
   
   
4. Thomas Brown

   

   0 posts
   
   5/5/2014 11:05 AM

   Sorry Pete! I didn't receive it and checked the junk email as well. I just sent you a personal email using the GCSAA service and didn't get a response when it was also supposed to be sent to me. This happened before and it might be the service you used. Thanks! Tom

   
   
   
   
5. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   5/5/2014 12:05 PM

   I didn't get a response either when it should have copied me using the GCSAA service.
   
   Send me an email to p_bowman@sbcglobal.net, I'll reply with his contact info.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   5/5/2014 1:05 PM

   Maybe this isn't the forum for the question, but does anyone really think this will attract and eventually bring more golfers to the course? I just don't see it; it reminds me of disc golf.
   
   I just seem to think people who want to play foot golf will just play foot golf, I don't see them taking up real golf.
   
   Will setting up a foot golf course bring in enough revenue for all the work that is done? I don't see that either. The best places I see to maybe implement it would be par 3 layouts and practice holes.
   
   Shouldn't we be working on other things that are closer to real golf? Like SNAG and other things similar?
   
   That's just my opinion.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   5/6/2014 8:05 AM

   Way different than disc golf, as foot golf happens on the golf course. Disc golf is usually in an unimproved part of a park and a way for the late-teens to mid-twenties crowd to get outside, walk around with a backpack over a shoulder, and smoke pot without being hassled. And no park system charges money for that.

   
   
   
   
8. Thomas Brown

   

   0 posts
   
   5/6/2014 12:05 PM

   I was very skeptical at first about FootGolf but lets face it - golf for a lot of us is dead in the afternoon. If this will generate some income during those times, it's worth a try. The mindset of the ownership is that we might be encouraging a group of people that have never golfed before to experience the ambiance and give it a shot. We'll be offering a free golf lesson by one of our teaching pro's after they FootGolf 3 times. There is already a buzz about this thing with local high school soccer players.
   
   Tom

   
   
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   5/6/2014 2:05 PM

   Thomas Brown, CGCS said: I was very skeptical at first about FootGolf but lets face it - golf for a lot of us is dead in the afternoon. If this will generate some income during those times, it's worth a try. The mindset of the ownership is that we might be encouraging a group of people that have never golfed before to experience the ambiance and give it a shot. We'll be offering a free golf lesson by one of our teaching pro's after they FootGolf 3 times. There is already a buzz about this thing with local high school soccer players.
   
   Tom

   
   
   Thanks Tom,
   
   I think by offering a free golf lesson to also encourage them to try real golf might be helpful. That is the one thing that I've seen missing in the foot golf discussion.
   
   And to not down play what you all are proposing, couldn't just offering regular golf at the foot golf price maybe do something similar? What about offering free golf lessons to others? I guess that question might be hard to answer without knowing what you charge for golf and what you might charge for foot golf.
   
   I get Pete's answer as well, couldn't foot golf become something similar, heck for some they could be set up on the same course/park and not cost anyone to play foot golf either?
   
   Maybe I'm too old and don't think out of the box enough, but I just don't see foot golf helping bring people into real golf that much. I think cost is the biggest deterrent, as cheap as I am, if I had to pay to play I probably wouldn't and with how busy we keep our kids these days, doesn't leave a lot of time.
   
   Make golf affordable and family friendly and less time consuming is what I think will help. Maybe having the kids play foot golf while the parents play real golf? Maybe that works?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
10. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    5/6/2014 3:05 PM

    Mel,
    
    The problem for guys our age is our age. We need to stoping thinking like old people and start thinking like teenagers.
    
    The price for golf means nothing to my son because ol' dad always picks up the greens fee tab. I showed my son and a couple of his buddies footgolf on youtube and they thought is was cool. I asked what they would play at the golf course, footgolf or golf golf. They'd rather kick the ball around the course than swing at a ball with a stick.

    
    
    
    
11. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    5/7/2014 12:05 PM

    Clay Putnam, CGCS said: Mel,
    
    The problem for guys our age is our age. We need to stoping thinking like old people and start thinking like teenagers.
    
    The price for golf means nothing to my son because ol' dad always picks up the greens fee tab. I showed my son and a couple of his buddies footgolf on youtube and they thought is was cool. I asked what they would play at the golf course, footgolf or golf golf. They'd rather kick the ball around the course than swing at a ball with a stick.

    
    
    I see your point, but the long term question is; will they pay for it when dad doesn't pick up the tab anymore? Of course I think this is an issue with real golf too. I guess it all depends on what the price is?
    
    Also the integrating foot golf players with golfers seems like it might be a little bit of a pain, but as your son pointed out, maybe creating a family type setting where families play both at the same time might be an answer?
    
    I just think we would be better off in the long run getting people hooked on regular golf somehow.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
12. Thomas Brown

    

    0 posts
    
    5/8/2014 5:05 AM

    Thanks Tom,
    
    I think by offering a free golf lesson to also encourage them to try real golf might be helpful. That is the one thing that I've seen missing in the foot golf discussion.
    
    And to not down play what you all are proposing, couldn't just offering regular golf at the foot golf price maybe do something similar? What about offering free golf lessons to others? I guess that question might be hard to answer without knowing what you charge for golf and what you might charge for foot golf.
    
    Actually, Mel, we barely charge enough to keep the doors open. As you know, your rate depends on location and we're located one hour from Philly and one hour from Baltimore just off I-95. Our golf rates are $52/with cart and $62 on weekends. Seniors $38 w/cart. We heavily discount play after 2pm without much response.
    
    The FootGolf rates haven't gone into effect yet but the owner's proposing $25 for adult and $15 for minors for 18 holes without a cart, only permitting play after 3pm.
    
    We kind of winging it here with no guidelines with the kit and supplies - I haven't had any input from other superintendents with FootGolf on their properties.
    
    Tom

    
    
    
    
13. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    5/8/2014 6:05 AM

    Thanks Tom.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
14. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    5/8/2014 6:05 AM

    Tom,
    
    No Luck with my contact?

    
    
    
    
15. Thomas Brown

    

    0 posts
    
    5/8/2014 7:05 AM

    No Pete. He didn't respond to the email and I checked in the junk mail too. Thanks for trying. We drilled yesterday. I just wish the manufacturer had some helpful hints. Tom

    
    
    
    
16. Porter Robert W

    
    5/8/2014 12:05 PM

    We are also looking into setting up FootGolf and 2 of our 7 courses. One will be at a 9 Hole and the other will be on my 18 Hole. Our director is very excited to try it. There is supposedly a pretty large following around the country. A course in WI is installing it at 2 of their courses. They will be charging $15 per FootGolf player. At that rate, or something even close to that will help supplement revenue at low Ball golf times.
    
    The WI course said they have 8 tournaments booked already before even opening. 60-80 players per tournament. They just opened last weekend.
    
    We'll see what happens!

    
    
    
    
17. Vandervaate Randy

    
    5/19/2014 10:05 AM

    This may be a good place to start - http://www.footgolf.net/courses.html
    
    Also, here is a recent article about a course in Dallas that has brought on the foot golf concept - http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/85141-FootGolf-Provides-Exciting-New-Revenue-Stream-DallasFort-Worth-Area-Golf-Facility
    
    Randy

    
    
    
    
18. Thomas Brown

    

    0 posts
    
    5/20/2014 8:05 AM

    Thanks, Randy!
    
    We've opened the FootGolf for play in the last ten days and have had very little play. Even after an 1 1/2" of rain, 13 out of 18 "cups" had to be bailed out in our clay soil. We haven't done much in the way of advertising yet and I'm okay with that until I get more of the bugs worked out. Our price is too high at $25/adult and $15/under 18 and I've asked the owner repeatedly to lower it to $20 and $10. We charge $5 a seat for a cart and rent soccer balls if they don't bring their own. It takes less than 2 hours to play 18 holes, all located on our front nine.
    
    Tom

    
    
    
    
19. Christian Pekarek

    

    0 posts
    
    8/25/2014 6:08 AM

    Does anyone have contact information where to purchase foot golf cups and covers? I'm told the American Foot Golf League isn't selling cups until they work out a licensing agreement with the PGA.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Chris Pekarek

    
    
    
    
20. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    8/26/2014 3:08 PM

    I have not heard that with my conversations with the foot golf league. As far as I know they are the only ones selling the equipment or accrediting courses. http://www.afgl.us/

    
    
    
    
21. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    8/26/2014 9:08 PM

    I think you just need to cut a 30-gal drum of some chemical you already have in your shop into two halves, then in the bottom of each half cut a hole the size of a regular golf cup. Insert golf cup and flagstick and you're ready to go.
    
    *** Important note: Make sure the chemical drum is less than half full before you cut it in half.

    
    
    
    
22. Christian Pekarek

    

    0 posts
    
    8/28/2014 9:08 AM

    Our golf pro initially contacted the afgl and the Illinois fgl to find out about their programs. Apparently it was the Illinois association who told him about the licensing deal. I emailed the Illinois association and was told there was at least a 2 month wait for footgolf equipment.
    
    After my initial post here, I did receive a telephone call from the afgl president who was very helpful. She gave me info on their accreditation and certification options and the equipment they offer. Our equipment will be shipped next week. I was impressed with the afgl setup. They are a very professional group.
    
    Thanks

    
    
    
    
23. Dwayne Dillinger

    

    2 posts
    
    9/8/2014 11:09 AM

    We have had a 9 hole footgolf course set up since August 16th. We are charging $8 to play and have seen 10-15 players a day during the week and 30-40 a day on weekends. Now that school is back we invited all the junior high and high school PE classes to come try it and last weekend we were over 60 players both days. As far as generating new golfers, I think it will take time, but I think it will happen. I have already seen guys who regularly play in the evenings playing with their kids who are playing footgolf while dad plays golf. I hope that at some point those kids try the game. If nothing else they are being exposed to the game of golf and spending time as a family.

    
    
    
    
24. Curt Brisco

    

    3 posts
    
    9/25/2014 8:09 AM

    For those of you that have Footgolf courses, do you rent balls and how many do you have on hand to rent? We open our course this Saturday and I am not sure we have enough rentals. Thanks for any help.
    
    
    Curt Brisco Supt.
    Fox Prairie G.C.
    Noblesville,IN

    
    
    
    
25. Peterson David T

    
    9/25/2014 10:09 AM

    I completely agree with Mel on this. I do not see people coming out and playing footgolf and thinking to themselves maybe I should try golf next. Its not even in the same ball park in my opinion and really if Im going to go try and play golf and I know there are footgolfers out on the course I will go and find a different course to play. I just don't see how this will generate more golfers...
    
    I do however think it is a good idea for a revenue source. I have heard good things about courses making money with this and I agree that in late afternoons when the tee sheet is empty if there is revenue to be made from footgolf I am all for it but from a pure golfers view I don't like it.

    
    
    
    
26. Corey Eastwood

    

    80 posts
    
    9/25/2014 11:09 AM

    Agree with David

    
    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
    
    
27. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    9/26/2014 6:09 AM

    For you courses that have already started your foot golf programs, how has it worked out with regular golf! do they both play at the same time? if it only takes 2 hours to play 18 holes of foot golf and 4 hours to play regular golf how do you get the foot golf around the regular golfers.
    
    I am interested in anything that may help bring people out to our course. the one thing that is a fact, you will not make any money if no one is there!
    
    Also what do you guys do about dress codes?
    
    I love the idea of getting PE classes to come out and try it out. great way to stimulate the game!

    
    
    
    
28. Kevin Fateley

    

    5 posts
    
    9/26/2014 9:09 AM

    We have 15 #5 soccer balls from Walmart $12 each cost.
    We have 8 #4 soccer balls for the little kids.
    We rent for $3 for 18 holes.
    We have clubhouse # on scorecard if they lose one we run one out to them (no charge for loss).
    We bought some fancy balls (on sale) from Dick's after team losses in the World Cup. Those balls were crap!
    
    Kevin Fateley
    Wildcat Creek Golf & Fitness
    Manhattan KS

    
    
    
    
29. Tyler Daniels

    

    1 posts
    
    9/26/2014 10:09 AM

    Agree with David also. Will not play a course that has foot golf.

    
    
    
    
30. Thomas Brown

    

    0 posts
    
    9/26/2014 10:09 AM

    James Smith said: For you courses that have already started your foot golf programs, how has it worked out with regular golf! do they both play at the same time? if it only takes 2 hours to play 18 holes of foot golf and 4 hours to play regular golf how do you get the foot golf around the regular golfers. Honestly, our 18 holes are only on the first 7 holes and then they go off in the rough and finish at the clubhouse. We don't allow footgolfers until after 2pm in season and it hasn't been an issue so far. We charge $22/adult and $12/under 18 I believe. $40/family of four (not sure what denotes a family). Rent soccer balls of different sizes for $2 - the biggest problem is balls being kicked into our many ponds which we provide ball retreivers.
    
    I am interested in anything that may help bring people out to our course. the one thing that is a fact, you will not make any money if no one is there! We've made $14,000.00 so far this year with only website advertising. We've hosted kids birthday parties using anywhere from 3 holes, 9 holes or 18.
    
    Also what do you guys do about dress codes? More relaxed but no sleeveless shirts
    
    I love the idea of getting PE classes to come out and try it out. great way to stimulate the game!