What is it that makes mini-golf customers want to visit a social entertainment venue and then return? Is it the food and drink? Is it the game itself? Or is it a combination of all of the above and how the game is executed? And how better to understand the needs and desires of a paying customer than becoming one?
Revolutionising the entertainment industry
As a child of the eighties and nineties, my childhood entertainment was outdoors, outdoors, outdoors, whatever the weather, and my evening entertainment as I grew into a young adult was mainly limited to drinking, clubbing, the big screen or bowling. The advent of tech-infused indoor mini-golf within the competitive socialising entertainment sphere in the 2020s has revolutionised all these forms of entertainment with a hole-in-one. But let’s not rely on corporate marketing speak! If we want to sell our products and services reliably, we need to put our money where our mouth is. So, with that in mind, I decided to take today’s hardest-to-please demographic - tween and teen siblings - to one of our client venues to see if an afternoon of mini-golf would willingly draw them away from their screens and bring out the family spirit!
First thing first, I had to get them there. Luckily being able to incorporate the words “mini-golf”, “indoors” and “lights and sounds” into one concise sentence made that an easy task. It seems like the idea of taking an age-old game out of the elements of nature and infusing it with audio-visual technology instead, is already a winner for the younger generation, and as they mature towards going out with mates instead of family, that will only continue, as enhanced tech-driven, visual stimuli fuels social media images and vice-versa. A hole cup that flashes either one colour or a whole rainbow of colours every time the ball is putted, and moreover one that can be programmed to be either illuminated or not when not triggered, in any colour of the venue’s choosing, instantly raises the motivational stakes to win and to record that win to share with friends and family!
Not just golf
Now, the particular venue we had chosen to attend was a little different from the average. A detail I hadn’t shared with the kids prior to arriving. I’ll admit we had a mixed reaction on arrival when they found that the afternoon of mini-golf I had promised was in fact an afternoon of tabletop games instead! You see, the venue in question was a Boom Battle Bar, a brand which has re-invented augmented mini-golf in a handful of venues with NOLF, a portmanteau of "not golf", which is played with your hands instead of a golf putter. However, as soon as they started playing, they were hooked! From the air-hockey style Road Rage, to the table maze of Rat Race and the block-building competition of Construction Challenge, and more, every game was played with a golf ball and yet varied enough to pique their interest and keep them entertained the whole way around. Almost all of the nine “holes” incorporated our plug-and-play technology with either lighting effects or an automated scoring system, all of which were triggered by a well-placed sensor.
For an even more immersive game, the client could have opted for sound to be added, if those same sensors had been linked to one of our programmable audio players.
I think the favourite game overall, by general consensus, was probably the one called Tube Strike, where you have to roll the ball up a slope to hit the sensor at the top in order to register a score. Other favourites were, for the boys, Putter Up, a baseball-inspired game, and Sk8er Kidz, a hole designed as a skate park where the ball had to bypass a series of ramps and obstacles to reach the hole. On a standard crazy golf course, this might not sound too unusual or difficult, although it would certainly be enhanced with an infusion of technology. But on a NOLF course, this had been redesigned into a snooker table where you had to use a cue to negotiate the obstacles and, instead of a choice of pockets, you had to pot the golf ball into the illuminated hole cup – a feat which presented a great deal more of a challenge!
My personal favourite, however, was Lil Hoops, a game where you had to throw the ball through a mini basketball hoop to score, and which for some reason I seemed to be better at than my teenage son, a fact that irked him but made me rather warm to the game!
Good, old-fashioned family entertainment - for the tech age
The beauty of these new gaming venues, offering augmented mini-golf among other things, is that they seamlessly blend good old-fashioned family entertainment with the excitement of the tech age. In our experience at Boom Battle Bar, the fusion of traditional games with cutting-edge technology not only captured the attention of my sceptical tween and teen audience, but also exceeded their expectations.
The variety of games we encountered, each with its unique twist and tech-infused enhancements, showcased the adaptability of augmented mini-golf. It's not just about sinking a ball into a hole; it's about engaging players with creative challenges, strategic thinking, and an immersive experience that goes beyond the confines of a standard golf course. The incorporation of customisable lighting effects, automated scoring systems, and sound integration only served to enhance the overall gaming atmosphere. It's an evolution of entertainment that caters to the preferences of the tech-savvy younger generation, ensuring that the experience is not only enjoyable but also shareable across social media platforms.
The revolution currently underway across the entertainment industry, particularly within the mini-golf and competitive socialising niche, is palpable. The marriage of nostalgic family fun with innovative technology creates an experience that transcends generations. It's a testament to the adaptability of traditional games and the limitless possibilities that technology brings to the table – quite literally in this case. So, whether you're a family looking for a dynamic outing, or friends seeking a new and engaging social activity, augmented mini-golf venues are poised to provide an entertaining and memorable experience.
As we step into the future of family entertainment, these tech-infused gaming spaces offer a compelling glimpse into what's possible when tradition meets innovation, ensuring that the spirit of play endures in the hearts of both the young and the young at heart.
Like the sound of it? Try it yourself at Boom Battle Bar in Bournemouth.
