If you've never heard of it, we're right there with you. Softgolf, the newest sport to hit the Land O' Lakes area, is a fun take on the classic (and often difficult) game of golf. Available to play on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Plantation Palms Golf Club from 5 to 10 p.m., Softgolf takes the concept of regular golf and makes it bigger, easier, and glow in the dark.
Softgolf can be played during the day or at night since the balls glow in the dark and the holes, flags, tee off areas and score card stands all light up with LED lights.
Softgolf uses 4 1/2 inch diameter foam balls and three large faced clubs. The holes, instead of their standard size are 12 inches in diameter. This means softgolf can be played, and easily mastered, by virtually anyone.
With a good swing, a softgolf ball can travel about 55 yards. This means the softgolf course length is much shorter than a traditional golf course. A par three is set at about 30 yards while the longest, a par five is set around 140 yards.
Softgolf is the brainchild of Raymond Baldarossi Sr. who invented Softgolf in his New Jersey backyard in 1974. He recieved five patents for the sport in 1978 and ran a softgolf business until 1988 in New Jersey.
His son, Ray Jr, has now resurrected the sport at Plantation Palms making it the first SoftGolf course in 20 years.
Softgolf is available to play at the Plantation Palms Golf Club on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. (last tee-off 9:15). The prices are $10 for 9 holes, $17 for 18 holes, $30 for a family of four playing nine holes, and $55 for a family of four playing 18 holes. Balls and equipment are provided. For more information, visit www.softgolf.net.
