Spring 2003
Western Mass Golf Magazine
A classic golf board game
Local company eyes worldwide audience
By Jay Nomakeo
Golfers are passionate for the game they play. After a solid shot or huge drive (that we swear went went 300-plus yards) we can compare ourselves to Tiger Woods. We can play all day and still want more.
Enter Bob Labrie, a Southampton businessman. He got hooked on the game after a couple of rounds. He is the owner of Labrie Trucking and two years ago sold Labrie Asphalt and Construction for a handsome profit. At one time Bob had 62 employees.
By chance Bob was introduced to a golf board game that was just getting started and needed some marketing help.
The game, called Box Of Golf, was developed by Stefan Barry, of Greenfield, a tow truck driver filling in his free time between calls.
The two struck a 20-year licensing agreement. Many changes had to be made. Now in control, Bob looked to give the game a facelift. "The cover had a cartoonish look," said Bob. He set out to find an artist to capture the true essence of golf. Bob decided on David Bowers of Ohio. The new cover has the feel of golf - the way it began with hickory shafts and eye-catching graphics. Bob's attention to detail would soon turn a game into a treasure. He hired a copywriter to simplify the rules. He watched over focus groups of golfers and non golfers to refine the game and work out kinks. Bob would not put his name on it until he was sure there were no other revisions to make.
The game comes in two versions. There is a regular version and a deluxe model. There are 18 holes and the game plays much like regular golf. "I learned the golf terminology playing the game. It takes about 2 hours for a foursome to play," added Bob.
Bob is working on a couple of deals to sell a quantity of the games. Orders have been steady and increasing.
The cover graphics have spawned a separate deal to market the prints.
The future plans for the company include custom designing local courses as well as a collector series of famous courses. Bob hopes to custom design one course a month and a collector series every year. Negotiations are under way with several courses.
The game is produced in Easthampton by a dozen employees. "I see that doubling real soon," said Bob.
Bob also can see Box Of Golf tournaments as a way to popularize the game.
As the board game grows and the ability to custom design courses to fit the game, Bob hopes someday golfers will compare his game to Monopoly.
