Made To Imagine: The Social Entertainment Business Podcast

EP 07: The Art of Staying Grassy | Guest: Jake Hoselton - Grass Clippings / Grass League

The conversation explores the evolution of the golf industry, focusing on innovative golf experiences and the cultural shift in golf formats. It delves into the unique features of Rolling Hills, the operations of day and night golf, and the establishment of Grass Clippings and Grass League as separate but complementary businesses. The conversation delves into the innovative franchise model of the Grass League, the commercial value and cultural credibility of the league, building franchise fandom and tribal loyalty, the cultural relevance of short format golf, Grass League event demographics and the experience economy, Grass League as an experiential brand, and the future of Grass League and golf entertainment. Takeaways * Golf industry evolution * Innovative golf experiences Par 3 golf is a significant part of the Grass League's format * Grass League events are designed to be part of the broader experience economy Chapters * 00:00 The Evolution of Golf Entertainment * 13:27 Rolling Hills: A Unique Golf Facility * 28:48 Grass Clippings and Grass League * 35:46 Commercial Value and Cultural Credibility * 41:39 Cultural Relevance of Short Format Golf * 48:12 Grass League as an Experiential Brand

EP 06: Golf's Gone Mad | Guest: Rory Farr - Mad Swans

In this episode, Rory Farr, head of planning and development at Mad Swans, discusses the investment decisions, scaling a brand new business, the commercial logic behind premium mini golf, and what any operator in an industry needs to know before they commit to something similar. The conversation also covers the challenges of opening a leisure venue in the winter and the inclusivity at the heart of Mad Swans. Takeaways * Investment Decisions * Inclusivity at Mad Swans Chapters * 00:00 Designing Mini Golf at South Downs

EP 05: Diary of a Mini Golf Mogul | Guest: John Whitehead - Greenspan

John Whitehead shares his journey from owning a mini-golf business to becoming a lead project consultant at Greenspan Projects. He discusses the challenges, insights, and opportunities in the mini-golf and family entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of playability, venue design, and market trends. Takeaways * Mini-golf business complexity * Importance of playability and venue design

EP 04: Diversifying with Adventure Play | Guest: Matt Hill - Birdworld

The conversation covers the rebranding and revitalization of Birdworld, the decision to focus on play, sustainability considerations, revenue and return on investment, post-opening metrics, creating a complete experience, key performance indicators, future plans, and advice for similar venues. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Rebranding * 05:25 The Decision to Focus on Play * 13:48 Sustainability and Practical Design * 20:18 Revenue and Return on Investment * 26:58 Creating a Complete Experience * 33:33 Future Plans and Advice

EP 03: The Experience Economy in Golf | Guest: Matt Stark - Paradigm Golf Group

The conversation with Matt Stark, Vice President of Partnerships at the Paradigm Golf Group, delves into the innovative approach of creating community-centered golf venues, the integration of tech-infused entertainment and social experiences, and the importance of staff culture and customer experience. Matt shares insights on the evolution of golf venues, the impact of technology, and the significance of building a vibrant staff culture to enhance the customer experience. Takeaways * Community-centered golf venues * Tech-infused entertainment and social experiences * Staff culture and customer experience Music: Endless - Cushy (via Epidemic Sound)