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Miniature Golf Services by Arne Lundmark

dba Adventure Golf Services

 

Why Choose Adventure Golf Services?

By Arne Lundmark

 

Many prospective owners and operators seeking to enter the miniature golf business ask this question, “How is your company different from the competition, and why should I select you to design and build my course?”

 

Our company is different from all others because we do not just want to build your course, we wish to help you determine what investment and course is good for you.  I always question my client’s intentions.  We do not want you to spend too much nor too little but rather match your investment to the market.  We want you to maximize your return on investment, and be a happy and successful operator.  Following are my thoughts about why you should select our company.

 

We are not just a builder.  Over the years I have had many chances to build projects that are not realistic in terms of  concept, investment and probable future success.  I guide my clients through these issues to help minimize potential errors..  Here are several examples of good advice that was followed or not followed.

 

• A recent client indicated his desire to, replace an existing course and invest $250,000 and build two $125,000 courses and that he was signing a contract with a miniature golf builder who had agreed to build these without questioning the wisdom.  I advised my potential client that he was making a mistake.  Why?  Because when I asked him about his sales volume for the existing course he said it was $100,000.  “Until you reach $300,000 or more you do not need two courses,” I said.  “I would rather see you build one $125,000 course and use the other money for another attraction.  Also why end up with two average courses when a higher investment on one will provide more sales.”  As we discussed the issues I also informed him that his market would support one course with a higher investment and we agreed to build one course for $200,000 that will provide his guests with everything they want. If he had followed with the other builder he would have failed.

• A number of clients have set up a business plan for presentation to a bank or partners with no concept of their expected investment in the miniature golf course.  Usually I discover this early on and assist them with a realistic forecast of how sales might go on a high, probable and low forecast.  We then match those sales numbers against low, medium and high operating costs.  This method lets us review the probable profit sensitivity when matching low sales against high operating costs.  It is within this analysis where we help our clients determine a not to exceed budget, whether it is $60,000 or $500,000.  There is a danger of over investing or under investing and we help our clients determine how to balance these two extremes.

• There are many types of successful courses including landscape courses, themed adventure courses, indoor black light and regular courses, portable courses, and high and low rise mountain style courses.  All are successful based on local market conditions.  We build them all, but most clients are not sure which is better.  In some cases a little of both is desirable and in others where budget is restricting development we guide our clients to keep it simple.  Remember a nice course, on 26,000 square feet, which includes landscaping, lighting, one or two waterfalls with streams and ponds, and one or two hills 4’ to 5’ high can cost between $165,000 to $200,000.  One client wanted all of this and the budget came to $195,000 and the available money was only $150,000 and the market would probably support a $125 to $150,000 investment.  We advised to cut down the hills, reduce the foot print of the course, have the owner do some of the work and shorten one of the water systems. 

•  Many clients want to build a $100 to $150,000 course when they should only be spending $60,000 to $80,000.  I always steer them so they see the value of a reduced investment.  We help them by offering a turnkey $60,000 course with their help on landscape, lighting or even building the course themselves with our construction documents and consultation.

• A client wanted to build an FEC with two miniature golf courses and all other FEC elements.  First he wanted his courses to be more like a putting course, which I advised against.  Next instead of capping his total FEC investment to $3 or $4 million or less he went ahead and put $13 million in.  I also advised against this heavy investment. He created something that was not proven to be successful, and the courses did not follow the formula for creating fun.  Six months after opening he brought me back as a consultant to try to straighten out the mess, and I did in the short term, but within two years the business was closed.  I asked why he asked me to come in and consult and his answer was, “You were the only consultant that told me up-front, that I was making a mistake.

 

• We are not just a designer.  After a decision has been made about budget then design is what determines repeat business, and probable sales.  If the course is not fun and attractive it will not be successful.  There are some cookie cutter builders who have no concept of this and the result is a course that is not as successful as it could be.  Following are my thoughts about why courses are successful.

• We designed and built a course for a couple for a very reasonable budget. Recently I spoke to this client about his success.  “I have people from many states who visit our course, and say it is the best course we have ever played.”  I told him the reasons for this is that the course has road and curb appeal but more important it is fun to play.  We design our courses with these design guidelines:  Choice, Chance and Challenge.  Choice is the concept where we provide several alternative routes to the golf hole.  Over and under, around or through, in the water or down the fairway.  Chance is the chance of obtaining a hole in one on any golf hole and the Chance that something unusual might happen to direct the ball to a hazard or area where the player must use another putt. Challenge is the concept that the challenge must be enjoyable for adults and children.  If there is too much challenge, the course will fail. 

• For themed courses I have been around long enough to have a $1 million idea for every themed course I design.  Whether it is creating more interactive golf holes, or creating a special effect, or coming up with a unique way to have a ball do something unexpected.  You name it, I have done it and there is no extra charge.

• I have probably made every possible error in design that can be made.  Anyone who hasn’t means that they are not designing outside the box.  But that was a long time ago.  I have been in the business since 1975 as an owner/operator and designer/builder, so I have learned what works and not to repeat my mistakes.  And I stand behind any mistake I make.

• Every course I design is custom designed by me, not someone who may not have experience or merely moves golf holes around with a mouse click.  I do my designs the old fashion way on a drawing board where I can view the entire course at one time and best determine how to balance the design elements.  I am not a cookie-cutter designer.  Everything I do is unique, fun and designed for fun.

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