We have often said that there is probably not one national answer to growing the game, but there are a million local solutions.
Our friends at Monarch Dunes in Nipomo, California have been building momentum with their innovative LEARN GOLF program. Geared to people have never touched a club but have a bit of the do-it-yourself attitude,Monarch Dunes will supply you with everything from free clubs and balls to “cheat sheets” explaining what to do from tee to green.
When we designed The Challenge Course, our intent was to offer a fun, and realistic golf experience that appealed to a wide range of players and took less than 2 hours to play. One of the ways we accomplished that was to design over-sized greens that could easily accommodate two flag sticks. We wanted one flag located in an easy spot on the green while the other would be in a far more difficult location. General Manager Minas Kaloosian and Superintendent Tom Elliott took it one step further by introducing an 8″ cup at the easier hole locations. As a result, the options on how to play The Challenge are almost endless.
Recently, Kevin Merfeld, of the NCGA, visited Monarch Dunes. As the Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, Kevin explains in detail (probably better than we ever could) what its like to take on The Challenge and the unique way golf is being introduced to new players. Click here for his story :
