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         Most of us have had fun enjoying sports in the comfort of our backyards and city parks. We can spend hours losing ourselves in games of tennis, volleyball, basketball, and sometimes hockey, depending on what part of the country we live in. I have definitely enjoyed these sports throughout the years but the one sport we've been unable to play in that urban environment, until now, is golf!

      With the advent of a new one third weight golf ball it is now safer to play this time honored sport in backyards, parks and streets near us. The “almostGOLF” ball is a practice golf ball that is safe to use off-course, it is 1/3rd the weight and only travels 1/3rd the distance. Here is a brief overview of the almostGolf ball taken from their website, the rest of the article can be found at almostGOLF


      “The almostGOLF ball is perfectly balanced for true spin, trajectory and accuracy. Its unique cross-linked foaming and internal pressure results in a .32 COR rating, approximately one third of a traditional golf ball. As a result, the almostGOLF ball compresses slightly upon impact just like a real golf ball, giving it real 'pop' off the club face and long-lasting durability. But because of its special core construction, the almostGOLF ball is extremely soft, making it backyard safe.” -almostGolf



     In a recent phone interview with founder Robert Peterson, we discussed the uses of this golf ball in off-course applications. Though he is a business man, and was happy to extol the virtues of this new technology, one thing became clear very early on in the conversation - his passion for the sport. He shared how players have embraced it and are in the process of forming a new sport or derivative of the game of golf. Europe is exploding with this hybrid form of golf called “Cross Golf” or as it is becoming known here in the States as Off-Course Golf, Urban Golf, or as a more barbaric form known as Street Golf played in the streets of San Francisco and Berkeley with a tennis-ball.


      One thing I can say for sure is that I am now a huge fan of it and that it is a very addictive sport. Friends that have had an interest in golf are looking at this as an alternative past time and others as a way to get into the sport without the stigma of being the new guy when trying to gain entry into the perceived playing grounds of the Old Boy's Club. With the way TV has portrayed golfing in the past, I can understand where this notion comes from. I have embraced it because of the affordability of practicing and improving my game. Experts say to practice more often, yet the price of practicing cuts into the affordability of playing a round of golf at my local golf course. For example, if I go to my local golfing range, it is anywhere from $8-$10 dollars for a bucket of balls to lob down range at a target. In a month's time this can easily add up to a hundred dollars. This is a hundred dollars that I no longer have to spend on a round of golf with my friends. I now look forward to practicing because I know that I will get better and the price to pay is the walk two blocks down to my local park.


-John (aka. Konaexpress)