Next Gen of Casual Athletics 🎳⛳

Today, we’re looking at the revival of sports that are considered "less-than-athletic," the fool-proof activities that can entertain any bored family, offer a flirt-friendly activity for a group of singles, or stir up a bit of friendly competition among co-workers. Bowlero, for instance, has been transforming the experience of smelly shoes and bad nachos into a hip, modern evening with a retro feel. Expect to find clean shoes, sleeker lounge areas & lighting, and real cheese on your nachos. The company, founded in 1938, has over 300 locations. Later this quarter, it will go public in a SPAC deal with Isos Acquisition at a $2.6BN valuation, a real glow-up from the company's 2012 bankruptcy filing. Expect more acquisitions of mom & pop lanes in the not-too-distant future.

                                                                            Photo by Puttshack

Not your dad's golf game
Landing on Puttshack’s website feels like you’ve arrived at a nightclub, with dazzling videos of beautiful people dancing, DJs spinning, drinks flowing, and – oh yeah – people playing mini golf. The firm has brought tech to the game, with patented technology that allows the ball to keep score. The company founded in 2018 is following in Bowlero’s footsteps vibe-wise and expanding into new cities after its original London & ATL outposts. Puttshack is founded by the original owners of Topgolf, which also utilizes a smart golf ball to keep score and track accuracy toward hitting targets in its open-air venues. The 21-year-old company is worth $2BN and merged with golf titan Callaway in March.

For speed demons & adrenaline junkies: Go-Karts. 

K1 Speed caters to groups of friends or colleagues with a need for speed. The company's 54 franchise locations offer a podium photo-op to give paying customers shots at the ultimate competitive glory. The company's CAGR has comfortably held at around 2.8% in recent years.