INTERVIEW Adventure Golf & Sports continues to evolve its mini golf courses and other spaces to keep pace with onboard entertainment trends. Scott Lundmark tells Richard Humphreys more Always on trend Photo: Adventure Golf & Sports Open ‘green’ spaces from AGS can be used for sports and for relaxation Open ‘green’ spaces are trending on cruise ships, says Scott Lundmark, president and CEO of Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), which designs and installs miniature golf courses and courts for various sports such as bocce ball, croquet and pickleball. These spaces must be designed and installed carefully to ensure they can withstand the rigours of life at sea. Like its mini golf courses, AGS fabricates these spaces to endure extreme temperatures and different types of weather, then securely anchors them to the decks. “For open spaces, we use an upgraded turf that’s very soft to the touch,” says Lundmark. “We also use a speciality infill to provide a more pleasant experience if passengers are walking on the turf barefoot, using it for a picnic, or when the cruise line wants to host a yoga class or install a temporary croquet court on the space.” To keep pace with changing guest expectations, AGS continually evolves and improves its products. For example, it is updating the design of its mini golf courses, which range from simple putting greens to more elaborate, links-style or heavily themed courses. The company is exploring how these courses can be optimised, depending on space, traffic flow, themes, budgets and guest demographics. “Many cruise lines now request two cups per hole, enabling a three-hole course to play as a six-hole layout,” says Lundmark. “Pre-designed or kit-ready portable modular mini golf courses are also growing in popularity. They’re easy to use and store, provide a variety of options for all spaces and budgets, and can be shipped anywhere.” In addition, AGS is upgrading the edges of game courts, improving the finishes of some products so they blend better with a ship’s colour schemes or decorative motifs, and introducing padel courts. As Lundmark says: “Innovation is key to stay in step with the industry.” 142
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