LMU ALMOSTGOLF OPEN 2006:The LMU Open was our first attempt at true almostGolf art direction and 'player flow'. As a result it was a blast to create. We went a completely different direction from the first LMU event we produced a few years ago. That event wandered through the campus. This event took 'Golf' to a whole new level of spectator involvement by tightening up the course into the 'sunken garden' area of campus (4 acres) and creating what we like to call a 'Stadium Golf' course where all the action takes place within a pretty confined 'stadium' environment and central clubhouse. In fact, we sandwiched the clubhouse with two incoming holes (7&13) and three outgoing holes (1,5,10) so it was kind the 'control central' hub of a wheel. You really can't do this with real golf balls because they are massively dangerous and go way too far. But with an off-course safe golf ball, everything changes.

CAL POLY POMONA ON-CAMPUS SHOOTOUT: How to introduce golf onto a college campus: We are learning alot about how to bring golf onto campus and the steps needed to make it effective, safe and tranctionable. Step one is to create a fun modified driving range experience so players and passers by can check out 'golf on campus' and see that its fun, safe and accessible. Then create a small almost - golf course of maybe five holes for those who want to take the next step. We found everyone had a blast and they now want us back to create other events.

UNLV CAMPUS DRIVING RANGE:  We found an almostGolfer in our midst. We set up the UNLV event very much like CAL POLY POMONA with a modified driving range with several hitting bays and a small course for people to get their feet wet. But this time we took one more step forward. I met a kid who's father had purchased the almostGolf golf ball the first year we were in business. And as my new found friend was plucking 60 yard shots into a water hazard without even trying, he explained how he had played for at least 12 hours the first day he got our balls. He even created his own almost-golf course. I was blown away by his skills. He out classed everyone with a golf club that day. I guess he proves the point. Practice makes perfect.

ALMOSTGOLF FACTORY TEAM DEFEATS USC GOLF CLUB IN A SQUEEKER: The first almostGolf tournament of the 2008 season saw a battle between almost-Tiger Woods and the USC Golf Club. It came down to the final fountain shot where Tiger made the shot and sent fans flying into the fountain.

THE BADLANDS SHOOTOUT: Las Vegas NV. This was our first on-the-golf course competition using the almostGolf ball. This was a warm up round event for the CGA Collegiate National Championships in Vegas. We created a course around the practice greens and tee boxes. Some shots were from the back tees, over trees and to a pin on a practice green. It was pretty much the marriage of darts, meet pool, meets golf. 

THE MESCHEWSKI OPEN: This is a great example of a neighborhood tournament using the almostGolf golf ball. John Meschewski found us on line and tested our balls. They'd been putting on the event for several years with everything from bean bags to tennis balls. He said our ball changed everything.

HOW THE OPEN CAME ABOUT: John Meschewski and his family live outside Chicago. Every year they have a 36 hole tournie played through their neighborhood. they get hundreds of people to come and they raise a bunch of cash to help their charity. I was lucky enough to be able to fly out and shoot the event. It was off the hook. They had shots over a pond, over their pool. They even had their own almost-driving range. Of course it was a one club tournament under a 8 iron.

(Note: I am a big fan of one club tournies. Multiple clubs make the event cumbersome and the courses have to be really long. It's better to make courses about accuracy, not distance.)

THE FIRST LMU ALMOSTGOLF INVITATIONAL...EVER! This is to give a bit of a history lesson for anyone wondering where the almostGOLF ball was originated. The LMU almostGOLF Invitational was our first tournament ever! We played it with a blown practice ball that we injected with foam insulation and then dipped in tool handle rubber. Needless to say, it kind of stank...but people really got into it. We did the event to raise money for 9/11 fund, which gives you an idea of how long ago it was. The attention we received from sponsors and players ended up launching our ball company and forcing me (RP) to go from event promoter/producer to polymer engineer.(ouch) Two years later we had a ball that actually worked and is what you can play today and buy in stores...or in our store.