LAS VEGAS, Nev. (July 17, 2017)—The golf world meets the surfing world and that matchup is still going strong at Las Vegas National Golf Club with the course’s golfboards. LV National was one of the first Vegas courses to incorporate the surf board-style golf carts (there are now a few other courses in the Vegas market using the boards) that allow players to surf their way around the course.–By Bill Bowman
The course started using the devices more than two years ago and their popularity remains strong.
“It’s a little slower in the summer so the use is down some because there is no roof on them like a regular golf cart,” said Joe Kelly, director of sales and marketing. “Once the temperature gets into the 80s and 90s, they all go out every day. But people are still using them, especially visitors. We get a lot of people from out of town that see them on the website and when they are in town they just have to try them out.”
It’s proven to be a fun way to get around the course, it saves time as each player can surf directly to his/her golf ball and they put less wear and tear on the course than a standard golf cart. It’s a win-win-win situation.
The cost is an extra $20 and golfers are more than happy to pay the fee.
“You have to try and be unique to get additional players on the course…that’s the name of the game,” Kelly said. “It’s definitely produced revenue for us.”
Don Wildman (founder of Bally Total Fitness) came up with the Golfboard idea but struggled with the concept. He then went to one of the masters, pro surfer Laird Hamilton, on a trip to Hawaii. Hamilton ad Wildman golfed together on occasion (when the ocean was too calm to catch waves). The plan moved forward and with the help of a few financial backers, golfers are surfing their way around more than 250 golf courses.
“It’s proven to be extremely popular, especially with the younger crowd,” Kelly said.