Project Flogton

All of you have helped the Alternative Golf Association and Project Flogton grow from mere observation, to concept, to reality in just a few months.  So much has happened so fast, and we’d like to share with you some of the highlights of the “First 100 Days” since our January 27 launch.

First, a few words about the unusual and attention-getting name, “Flogton” (“not golf,” backward). We chose it in order to communicate that while we do not advocate cheating at golf or changing its rules, we do believe strongly that it is time for the golf world to legitimize a second, more playable game that lowers the barriers to golf, but does not lower the standards or competitive spirit.  The AGA/Project Flogton is developing versions and formats of this secondary game with modified rules, and is encouraging innovation from equipment companies to create a new path to golf for newcomers and a more playable alternative for recreational golfers.

Back on Jan. 27, Commissioner Scott McNealy, Founder Bob Zider and I – with the guidance and encouragement of our advisors and long-time Wall Street golf analyst Casey Alexander from Gilford Securities – shared our observations about the lack of growth in the golf industry and presented a vision and a plan to a group of industry opinion leaders at the annual PGA Show in Orlando. While our ideas have been called “disruptive” and “radical” by some, we’ve heard from others from around the world who love golf, are invested in its future and are looking for innovation that will give the game a boost.

We struck a chord globally: Visitors have come to Flogton.com from 66 countries. Not surprisingly, those with the keenest interest are the ones with large financial investments in the game: golf course owners/operators, equipment companies and course designers and architects.  Here is a partial list of the companies with key decision makers we’ve met with or spoken to, who have shown interest and support:

Golf  Associations:

• NGCOA  (National Golf Course Owners Association)
• CGCOA  (California Golf Course Owners Association)
• EGCOA  (European Golf Course Owners Association)
• EWGA  (Executive Women’s Golf Association)

Equipment Companies:

• TaylorMade
• Cobra/Puma
• Nike
• Callaway
• SNAG  (Starting New at Golf)

 Media coverage has appeared in: 

• Golfweek
• Golfwire
• Australia’s Talking Golf
• GeoffShackelford.com
• Wall Street Journal
• New York Times
• GolfWorld
• Asian Golf Business
• Pellucid Perspective
• Troon Golf & Travel
• Boston Business Journal
• Asian Golf Monthly
• InMenlo

While there is a wide variety of opinions from those who make their living in the game about what ought to be done to get more people involved, it is clear to us that genuine concerns exist from almost every quarter about lack of overall growth in the industry. Our experience and key belief is that successful businesses are the ones who listen to their customers, stay focused on giving them what they want and relentlessly pursue ways to stay relevant.  Can we make a difference in golf?  What we’ve seen and heard in just our first few months of existence tells us that there are others who love golf as we do and are searching for ways to grow the game.  Our goal is to align with these people to bring innovative solutions to golf for the benefit of everyone.

Stay tuned.

Pat Gallagher

CEO

Alternative Golf Association LLC

Dear Flogton Fans (and those who aren't sure yet), 

Since announcing the formation of the AGA and Project Flogton on January 27, 2011 at the PGA show in Orlando, we are gratified by the response from all over the golf world.  Many of the publications in the golf world have written about it. Check out John Paul Newport's February 12 column: "The New Testament of Golf" in the WSJ.  We've  succeeded in touching an exposed nerve in golf, which was our hope.  Now let's see how this evolves.

We've learned plenty in a month that has kept us focused on how best to develop this idea.  A clarification: "AGA" and "Flogton (notgolf backwards)" are just placeholder names to communicate what we are advocating.  We suspect that the best ideas on what the names ought to be will come from our growing community. We'll keep you posted.

We've heard from many golf course owners/operators, just about all of the major equipment companies, and even some we've never heard of.  One thing just about everybody agrees on: how do we make golf more fun, more attractive and a better value for everyone?  We hope www.flogton.com becomes the place where this discussion continues.  Our mission is to lessen some of the things in golf that may be keeping some people away, while keeping the great things about the game.  With your help we can do it.

Yes, there are some who are aghast that any changes in the game that they have come to know and love are being contemplated.   Our message to them is this: we love your game too, and aren't interested in changing it at all.  We just want more people to experience the joy of competing on a golf course and believe strongly that there is room for another game as well.  We are finding that we aren't alone. Stay connected to this site for updates and new features in the future.

Thanks for your interest and let us hear from you.

Pat Gallagher, CEO, Alternative Golf Association
 

I applaud AGA and it's effort to creatively approach the game from a modern day perspective. Speaking of modern day- how is it that children 10-12" apart in height are sold the same set of golf clubs and turned loose to go out and learn the game? If Phil Knight would have approached the junior golf shoe market first instead of the running shoe industry and utilized the strategy of "If your son or daughter wears a size 5 or 6 I recommend that you buy a size 8 and stuff some newspaper up in the toe so they can GROW into it"- would we know who he is?