Local businessman hopes to revitalize fairways with new sport

An Amesbury businessman is trying to get golfers to trade their swing for a fling.

Alex Van Alen created “FlingGolf”, a game he describes as a mix of golf and lacrosse.

“I just put the two together, started playing around with things, on how to really throw a golf ball 200 yards, that was my goal,” explained Van Alen.

As hundreds of golf courses have closed around the country in recent years, golf course owners are eager to get more young people on their fairways.

Van Alen said the hope is that FlingGolf will have the same affect snowboarding had on the ski industry and create a new generation of participants.

Norman Tarr, the general manager of the Wenham Country Club, added “For the last 10 years or so, the play hasn’t been increasing as it had in previous years.  It’s a hard game to perfect, to really embrace, to get good at, so some younger people get more frustrated.”

FlingGolf requires just one fling stick instead of a set of clubs.  The rules for the game can be put on one small card.

We asked two young golfers, Jason Hutchinson of Salem and Steve Deroche of Danvers, to give the game a try.

Hutchinson thought it was interesting, adding “I never played lacrosse growing up, but it was pretty cool. I would definitely give it a shot.”

Deroche was happy they both hit the fairway in their first shots, and thought the learning curve would be quick.

“A couple of shots and you can probably shoot better than you can with your clubs.”

Those are the kinds of remarks Van Alen likes to hear.  He’s hoping the game will become something big.

“Ultimately, the Olympics.  We really see it as a legitimate sport and more and more people are seeing it that way.”

In fact, both Major League Lacrosse and the National Golf Course Owners Association have now partnered with FlingGolf.

It’s also gaining popularity overseas, being played in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Morocco.

Cox Media Group