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A number of good reasons might cause you to consider remodeling your existing miniature golf course. Though there are “pride of ownership” and safety reasons, more than likely the greatest motivation is the desire to increase your revenue stream . There is a variety of factors that may have caused declines in revenue or are keeping your location from achieving its highest possible revenue. Among this list may be a reason that fits your circumstance. WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?
1. Your course does not send a “warm welcome” message to the passer-by. Perhaps the landscape has become overgrown, screens the course from view and interferes with the lighting. Rather than a bright inviting appearance, the course looks dark and gloomy. 2. Players walk off your course before finishing because of frustrating play. The ball fails to role true, or the ball is too easily hit into landscape or waterscape areas. These playing surfaces are usually the result of poor hole design or poor construction, sometimes marketed as “challenging” holes. These players seldom return. 3. Even though your course was recently built, poor design or construction shortcuts may have resulted in a course that is difficult to maintain and has ongoing repair costs. 4. The course lacks an exciting image. If image isn't every thing, it is one vital factor in maximizing the financial success of your facility. Even the non-tourist courses need an element of WOW! about them. 5. Producing frequent repeat play requires far more than challenging play. In fact, if play is too challenging, it may even be discouraging. Memorable visual elements, sensory engagement, holes appropriately designed for your audience, and events that add FUN to the course are also vital considerations. 6. Maybe time has taken its toll on your course. Perhaps it just needs some new carpet, some permanent hole edging, some fresh walkways, and possibly a new hole or two. Perhaps the 12 year old scenes need some refreshing and embellishment. This will let your customers know that your facility is alive and well and you still care about them. 7. Are there safety issues? Are there trip hazards in the original design? Is it too easy for children to get into the landscape and water areas? Do some of the hole designs lend themselves to launching the ball into the air? Are there bottleneck holes that are a serious cause of slow play? WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS? 1. Assuming the location is still viable; creating a welcoming look appears to be fairly straight forward. Open up views of the course by tree and brush removal. More sunlight may also enable the successful growing of brightly flowering annuals. The second part of the solution may be to look at fencing and lighting. Does the enclosure look like a way to keep people out? Do you need to add overhead lighting or apply spot lights to critical portions or features of the course? 2. If you have unplayable holes the best solution my be total replacement. Hopefully, there are only a small number of holes that need to be rebuilt. Sometimes an existing hole can be modified; other times removal and building a new hole are required. Item 3. below suggests how to maintain continuity between old and new and avoid a patched-up look. 3. When replacing holes, the timing is excellent for solutions to other problems. This is an ideal time to replace tattered carpet. It is also a perfect time to replace hole edging if you have nagging loose brick/paver problems requiring your constant attention. Either permanent edging or brick repairs are among the choices you have. When these elements are consistent on all of the holes the “patched” appearance is eliminated. 4. The need to improve the variety or type of playing holes can also be addressed by replace with newly designed mini-golf holes. These holes should be designed in response to decisions about your customers and their wants. Do you need more novel holes or do you need some easier or more challenging holes; or might you need some “intentional luck” holes? 5. How do you keep novelty alive? Excitement and fun can be added in a variety of ways. From technology to traditionally interesting scene elements you can provide a new experience for your customers in ways that will give them reasons to return. It might even be as simple as fresh landscape and water elements. The intent should be to make the course fresh and intriguing with visual, sound, and kinetic elements. Frequently, these elements are integrated into the play of the golf course hole itself. Therefore, adding visual and sound elements should be considered at the same time as you contemplate hole replacement. 6. A related solution is the addition of an event-filled 18th or 19th hole. A theme structure can be designed to give an incentive to return the ball and promote another round of play or participation in another attraction. Through the use of electronics and a ticket dispenser you can encourage more repeat play and business. In the event-filled finishing hole the “correct” putt triggers both action, reward, and something memorable. It is more fun for the customer and generates more revenue for the owner…a real win-win for everyone. 7. Safety and liability issues arise when there are “trip” hazards, missing barriers, steps without guard rails, ponds/streams that players can slip into, and holes that allow balls to go awry. These can all be corrected. Many of these corrections you can make locally; others may require a professional solution. CONCLUSION Thoughtful examination of your existing course will suggest possibilities. These can be further clarified by a site visitation from a professional miniature golf company consultant with experience in the areas identified above. Or, you may find that providing site plans and photos, many solutions can be suggested and cost estimates determined
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