Goofy Golf Great New Farm Game

Goofy Golf Great New Farm Game AG WORLD Ag World 17-2-17 After dreaming about it for 40 years, Don Wachtel finally created a golf course on his hilly farm near Fresno, Ohio, after he re-tired. But it's not just any golf course - it's a "goofy golf' course. Farms are perfect for Goofy Golf, says Wachtel, because you can set up a course almost anywhere. You don't have to worry about taking divots or landing in the rough because the rough is everywhere. The balls used are old softballs that are rejects from a pitching machine and the only golf club you need is a putter. Wachtel set up 18 Goofy Golf holes ranging in length from 125 ft. to 400 ft. long. He keeps the pastures mowed but they're not "fairway" smooth because, essentially, they* still cow pasture. The "greens" consist of circles of sand ranging in size from 15 to 25 ft. in dia. with a "cup" (made out of PVC pipe) that's just a little bigger than the softballs. Wachtel uses sand for the greens because it catches the ball when it ' lands and yet the ball will still roll over the top of it for putting. "I got the idea for Goofy Golf in the 1940's when I got out of the service and my father took me to play it. I've never seen the idea again but I never forgot it. When I retired, I decided to set up my own course," says Wachtel. The first tee is on the side of the hill behind the Wachtel home. It follows the contour of the hill, goes down the slope, crosses a brook, a township road, and re-turns straight up over a hill that's so steep the ball often rolls back down to the bottom after you hit it. People who play goofy golf on his farm have to have a sense of humor, says Wachtel, because you often end up swinging on slopes so steep it's hard to keep your footing. Designing the course was almost as much fun for the Wachtels as playing. The most difficult part was convincing the truck driver who brought the sand that they really did want it dumped in small piles around their fields to make greens. Signs around the course give golfers humorous warnings ( instructions. The course is too rough for golf cart so everybody walks. The balls are large enough so they can be easily seen even in tall weeds. Golfers can't hit "Goofy" golf balls as far (the record is about 420 ft.) but because the course is much shorter, par a similar to a regulation course. "It's a great way to have fun with friends get some great exercise, and enjoy the out doors. And it's inexpensive to set up the course. They say a conventional golf course costs at least a half million dollars per hole to construct. We spent just $100 to 125 per hole on our Goofy Golf course," says Wachtel, who's printed up cards for keep ing score on the 18-hole golf course. H plans to open the course up to the public i the future but, for now, he only opens it t groups which pay an entry fee. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Don Wachtel, 50122 Tl 189, Fresno, Ohio 43824 (ph 614 622-0099;

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