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MINIATURE GOLF
There's plenty of room to join the boom in one of America's favorite
pastimes.
Published in Small Business Opportunity Magazine Winter 2004
The Opportunity: The business of golf continues to be strong
despite other dips in the economy. Approximately $62 billion worth of
goods were sold in the U.S., and 56 million people around the globe
play golf. Wouldn't you like to have a piece of that profit pie? During
the past two decades, the golf industry has outpaced inflation and does
much better than other industries including gambling and amusements
(about $55 billion) and even the movie industry ($58 billion).
Experience Needed: One doesn't need much experience to start a
miniature golf course. You can build your own course or tie in with a
recognized leader in the field, Lomma Golf, and let them help you
establish your business.
Background: Miniature golf was started by Garnet Carter in the
late 1920s when times were tough for most people. From its beginning,
in Chat-tanooga, Tennessee, and during the entire depression, miniature
golf spread like wild fire all over the country. For the next decade
and a half the sport grew into an estimated 40,000 courses. Even while
other businesses were crumbling, miniature golf exploded with
popularity. It wasn't until the Second World War that lack of personal
leisure time caused the industry's first downswing. It took two
entrepreneurs from Scranton, Pennsylvania to breathe fresh life into
this once dynamic industry. Ralph and Al Lomma, brothers, opened their
first miniature golf course in Scranton in the early 1950's. The
immense popularity of their local course caused them to open several
others.
By 1955, Lomma Miniature Golf was in the business of selling miniature
golf courses to the general public. One of the brothers, Al, toyed with
the motors, gears, belts, and moving parts that could block the path of
a well-struck putt. These obstacles proved to be the secret of the
immense success attained by the Lommas.
As the oldest and largest manufacturers of miniature golf courses in
the world, with over 4,000 courses sold worldwide, Ralph Lomma and his
late brother Al are credited as being the "fathers of modern-day
miniature golf." Just one of the Lomma's inventions was the placing of
a clown's face at the end of the game, where the lucky customer could
win a free game by hitting the clown's nose. This last shot also served
as the owners' control, as the balls were locked inside the obstacle
and the balls played were counted.
Lomma's innovations included placing miniature golf courses at sites
that were experiencing slow seasons such as tennis courts. If the
tennis season picked up, the operators simply removed the mobile
miniature golf course and tennis resumed. Lomma also launched indoor
miniature golf courses, further trailblazing the industry.
Startup Costs: The startup costs for the indoor courses, the
outdoor courses and for the putting greens will vary depending on your
location and the size of the operation. It's best to contact the
companies listed in the resource section below for specifics on your
particular scope of operation. Lomma Golf has opportunities that begin
at $5000.
How To Charge: You can charge about $3 per game but charge
whatever your market will bear. What do similar businesses charge in
your area? Do some research. If you are offering a better miniature
golf course product, then charge more. Because miniature golf is a
non-inventory, non-commodity business, the cash revenues stay with the
owner. Operators of courses are basically renting "air", and don't have
inventory to replace. In most cities, the cost of one movie ticket
would allow a family of four to play miniature golf.
Building Your Biz: There are many ways to market the miniature
golf business to the entire community. It appeals to everyone. You can
market your golf course to a wide variety of groups, ranging from kids
to senior citizens' clubs. You can host birthday parties, special
anniversary events and corporate celebrations at your miniature golf
course. Tie-in with a local caterer to provide food and beverages for
these special events. And for the golf fanatics, market a rehearsal
dinner/golf game before the wedding. The possibilities are limited by
your imagination.
Consider tie-ins with local industrial parks, adult communities, movie
theaters, shopping malls.
Thanks to Small Business Opportunity Magazine for article publication. Money-Making Ideas for Entrepreneurs.
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