JON JOHNSON What began as a backyard sport for Ron Watson and some Dothan friends has transformed into a business venture of a LawnGolf course and restaurant in Auburn.
“Then the next time, I just got my golf club and started hitting it . Then I put targets out there to hit and thought it was kind of neat.” “One day Kevin Klein, the pro at the Country Club, told me they make 6-inch holes. So if you took that post newel and put two balls next to it on each side of the post newel, the dead center line was exactly six inches. So it’s a six-inch hole.”
The group of friends even began playing competitive rounds, keeping standings and having a championship tournament at the end of the season over the nine holes with 18 tee boxes. The club of choice is usually a 7-iron or 8-iron, though Watson prefers a 6-iron. “If you ever win a Monday match, it’s kind of like the Masters, you become a member. Instead of a green jacket, we give you a white shirt with a pocket … a T-shirt. Since 2012, we have 23 members.”The sport became a hit with those who liked golf, but perhaps weren’t top notch golfers.
“It’s kind of the same thing when you’re putting. This is going to take the break a little more than a regular golf ball. A lot of things that make a difference are the bunkers, and also the wind comes into play. If you swing too hard trying to go through the wind, it’s not going anywhere.”“Finally, I decided well, maybe I’ll do it,” Watson said. “I went up there and found some land in Auburn.”“Well, truthfully because of age demographics,” Watson said.