Idlewild Pro Launches Popular Indoor League

Jesse Mejia cranks a drive down a fairway during Tuesday indoor golf league at The Sandbox. Photo by Craig Sterrett.

Idlewild’s general manager and PGA head professional didn’t run off to Florida or Arizona for golf or side gigs like some pros do.

This year, Brandon Hansen helped The Sandbox in Sturgeon Bay start and run golf leagues that have been well-received.

A Tuesday league with sessions at 2 pm, 4:15 and 6 filled up quickly, though some space remained in late February in the 4:15 slot. On a recent Tuesday evening, with four foursomes competing for nine holes on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Hansen noted that the two hours and 15 minutes gave players plenty of time to warm up.

What’s that? Warm up? 

Gasp!

“I’ve never seen any of these guys on the range,” Hansen remarked.

Hansen had hoped to have more days for indoor leagues, but he had to scramble to get them going when The Sandbox opened in December.

Hansen said he set up the winter league because it’s something he enjoys doing. He noted that leagues for teams are pretty easy to set up and the golf business has been growing. During the summer, he thinks he could fill more scramble leagues than Idlewild already has, but it’s tough to get leagues going for individuals playing on their own ball. 

With traditional leagues tough to fill, he also became less optimistic about a goal to set up area-wide stroke-play competition.

In addition to running the indoor league, Hansen has been teaching lessons at The Sandbox and also brought in TaylorMade representatives for one demonstration day and fittings.

Hansen sees the limitations of indoor golf – maybe 10% of the time shots go farther or straighter than they should. He sets up play for 10-foot gimmes, because the distance from the hitting area to the screen is 10 feet. 

“You’re not in a simulator to work on your putting,” he said. “We putt at least once. So, they gain when a 12-footer drops.”

A few better players, such as Horseshoe Bay assistant pro Larry Woldt, have recorded under-par scores in league. 

The league lasts 10 weeks, and Hansen sets up handicaps after the third week. He considers the $25 per nine holes for 10 weeks reasonable, since that includes pre-round driving-range time, chances at a $20 payback for weekly winners, prize money for the winning team and a year-end banquet for everybody.