Jonathan Bellingham was supposed to be winding down. Third generation helping to run Capon Springs and Farms Resort in Hampshire County – a property where mineral waters have flowed through American history since the 1700s – he figured for most retirement meant playing more golf. But he doesn’t like traditional golf. So he created the first FlingGolf PE curriculum in the country, licensed it into West Virginia middle and high schools, equipped every state park in WV with gear, and became the first person to play FlingGolf’ on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Retirement is apparently a flexible concept.
FlingGolf is a lacrosse-golf hybrid: one stick, same course, same par, same holes, different motion. The learning curve runs about twenty minutes. Entry cost is one stick at around $150 – a fraction of what traditional golf requires to get started. What Bellingham saw was an access and engagement problem: a sport that could get kids outside without the intimidation factor, that families could play together, that PE teachers could teach without a specialized background. He built the curriculum, created a club-to-tour pipeline, and is now taking it international, with sharing it in the UK during the Britain’s Cup held in late August.
Learn more about: Fling for All / Cacapon Springs and Farm Resort / WV State Parks
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