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HOW TO CREATE A SPECTATOR FRIENDLY 'GOLF TOURNAMENT': The LMU almostGOLF 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.
There are several strengths to creating a tight stadium golf model:
1. SPECTATOR FRIENDLY: Most people don't realize that during your average corporate or charity golf tournament, everyone gets in their carts and drive to their holes. Suddenly 'poof' the spectator element disappears and the energy is gone. Your entire experience depends on the vibe of your foursome. We wanted to solve this 'involvement' issue. At LMU, we created a central clubhouse with the course wrapped around it. This made it so friends, rubberneckers and passersby could just hang out, listen to some tunes, nosh on some grindage, and watch all the action as it happened around them.
2. FAST PLAY: Since the event was a one club 9 iron tournie, we were able to tighten the course up even more. It also made the event more fun because suddenly it wasn't about blasting the ball a distance, it became about shaping shots and hitting 'greens' from tough tee positions.
3. EASY INSTALLATION: It took about 4 hours to set this course up. Since it was the first time, it took a little longer than expected, but we were ready for our 10am tee times and all the water hazards filled up just in time.
4. CENTRAL CLUBHOUSE: Course design is key to creating a good vibe and a central clubhouse where people are able to walk through, snag a snack, drop off their scores and tell stories of their escapades is critical to creating an open and fun atmosphere for everyone involved, even if they aren't playing.
5. MUSIC: Beats are something most golf tournaments seldom experience. Since we wired the clubhouse for sound and we were able to play on a mear 4 acres, you could hear the thumping all around the course. Seeing that no one was qualifying for the US Open, it seemed the thing to do and everyone liked it.
Off-course design is a very new artform, so stay in touch because every event we do this year will be a completely different piece of art and we will discuss it thoroughly.
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