Last week I shared some of the most absurd golf ideas on crowdfunding websites Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
(Thanks to everyone who commented, including Bob M., Ted O., J. Scully, Bill C., Gary S., and Don P.)
This week, I'd like to share what I think are some of the more promising concepts seeking funding from "the crowd," (i.e. the public).
Who knows? Some of these may become the next big thing in golf.
Golf Ball Wrangler
This one could become a real hit with golf courses. Instead of paying divers to harvest the golf balls from their lakes and ponds, courses could use this underwater range picker to dredge them up. Looks like there's a mini, consumer version in the picture, although I'm pretty sure nobody would ever play with you again if you used it.
Golf Board
"Wait a minute," you're saying, "wasn't this on your list of things you didn't like?" Yes, it was. As I mentioned in the comments, I'm totally conflicted over the Golf Board. On one hand, I love this idea -- not only does it look like a ton of fun, I can see how it would speed up play and have less turf impact than golf carts. On the other hand, I think it faces real hurdles -- mainly from golf courses that love cart revenue and fear liability. Let's hope I'm wrong on the latter.
Game Golf
There are tons of game and stat-tracking apps, but even the best ones usually require you to pause or stop to input data (which club you're using, your location in the fairway, etc.). With transmitters inserted into the butt end of your clubs that "talk" to the wearable receiver, Game Golf's platform promises to eliminate this.
O'Beam Putting Aid
Nobody said good ideas need to be complicated, and the O'Beam is delightfully simple for practicing one of the tenets of good putting: keeping your head still. When you clip it to the brim of your cap and take your putting stance, the O'Beam shoots a beam of light down onto your ball so you can immediately see -- and correct -- excessive head movement.
Golf Cooler Bag
I usually buy my drinks at the golf course, but if you like bringing your own, this neat cooler bag will allow you to do it even more discreetly. Yes, other bags have been made for this, but not only does this one look far more like a real shoe bag, its printed sneaker images sitting behind mesh takes the camouflage to the next level.
What do you think of these ideas? Heard of any better ones? Please share your thoughts or read what others are saying below.
I purchased that Nanoswing device and it sucks.
Happy Holidays! I also invented a wearable device that fits on the brim of a cap -- it monitors head position and gives visual and physical feedback when outside of an optimal range. It's called Nanoswing.
Has anyone actually tried the O'Beam? It seems like a good idea but as anyone who has used a laser pointer knows it is very sensitive to slight movements and something attached to the brim of a hat seems like it would be subjected to a lot of slight movements.
The Wrangler is not a new idea. It has been around for years.
The Golf Board is a great idea but will they allow them on the course? Not likely.
O Beam putting aid may be helpful.
Golf Cooler Bag would not be practical in Canada. Provincial liquor laws prohibit having any liquor on the golf course that was not sold on the course. You cannot legally bring your own. Also the golf courses would obviously not appreciate the loss of revenue.
Regarding the oh so clever drink cooler...Many people like bringing their own drinks to the golf course - but consider the legal and economics for the golf course: if the course doesn't carry a drink you like - let them know. If you're just too cheap - buck up and realize it takes a lot of money to keep the golf course open. If you are bringing alcohol, realize that it may be illegal for you to bring alcohol on the premises, and that the alcohol license for the course requires that servers be aware of a customers condition so that they do not serve to someone already impaired, and that they may be liable for guests driving impaired when they leave. The reason they are trained to observe the signs is that you cannot tell when you have had too much, or might drive the cart into the lake, or your car into someone else later.
I like the golf board and can see how it could help keep courses in good shape.
These ideas have real merit,except the the "shoe bag" leaves me a little cold.
Great stuff.
Ted
Like the idea of the O'Beam putting aid.
John Jagger
Hi Wayne, I think that quite a few of us would like to get your feedback on the golfboards. then we could "walk" the round instead of using a cart--H
i like the game golf item. The ability to track stats and distances and use that for game improvement as well as knowing the distances one hits various clubs is a great idea. I wonder if they will come to market. Funding and promos are finished I believe and appears production and release seem to be an issue.