Income Opportunities
A major appeal of disc golf is that it is a very inexpensive activity. You can play with a regular Frisbee®, but specialized golf discs are available for $8 to $20. Most courses are in public parks, and are usually free to play, unless there is an entry fee for the park itself. Even still, many parks are finding out that it is possible to generate income for the park through disc golf! Below is a list of some of the ideas that have worked:
Donation Tubes - while there are a few parks out there that can hire someone to constantly monitor the course and charge visitors to play, a Donation Tube is a very cost-effective alternative. The tube can be posted at the start of the course, secured in concrete and locked to prevent vandalism. A sign posted there can state the purpose of the Donation Tube, asking visitors to contribute to help with the upkeep. In this manner, someone just has to check the tube every once in a while. The Ludington, Michigan club did this with their course and in two years raised enough funds to buy brand new targets for every hole (approximately $10,000).
Merchandise / Concession Sales - Disc Golfers are always in need of discs. Many parks have found it worthwhile to have a concession stand near the course, to sell not only discs, but tee shirts and even food and drinks. These are all things the player will need anyway, so why not make them available and help the park at the same time?
League and Tournament Play - League play is a great way to generate a little extra income for the park. A weekly league, where players pay a small fee each time they play, can include a dollar or two for the "park improvement fund". This same technique can be applied to tournament events, where many players will attend at one time.
Ball Golf Courses - Another recent business strategy has worked wonders for public ball golf courses that have trouble filling up all their tee times. Temporary targets can be placed and integrated rather well with the existing fairways, so that ball golfers and disc golfer can occupy the course at the same time! If you own / manage a golf course and are interested in this opportunity, click here to send an email or call Michael at Yeti Tech at (231) 275-7439.
© 2008 Yeti
Tech Computer & Disc Golf Services