b'Brothers in ArmsThe Largent brothersSam, Andy and Brianbring to you the Flatstick Pub. Growing the game from the inside out, one micro-brew at a timeby Tony Dear something similar called Smash Putt in Seattles SoDo and Capitol Hill areas. TIM HUGHES SOUNDSa lot like the rest of us.Andy, the Chief Operating Officer, was Ill go anywhere to play golf, he says.a 2009 graduate of Whitworth University Where the 40-year-old Lean Practitioner atin Spokane with a degree in Business Boeing might differ, though, is that before 2016Administration who had worked at the Ranch he had never hit a golf shot in his life.Club in Missoula, Mont., first in the bag room, And unlike most golfers who follow theirthen in the pro shop. Hed also caddied at the fathers or grandfathers into the game, or areCoeur dAlene Resort.motivated to take it up after catching a glimpseA third Largent brother, Brian, is the of Tiger Woods or some other star player onoperations community outreach manager.TV, Hughes became friends with a golfer at theAndy is the real golfer of the family, Flatstick Pub in Kirkland, Wash. and soon foundcarrying a solid 4.8 Handicap Index. himself becoming strangely interested in thisAs is the case with every new business, there alien pastime.were riskswould the golf theme go down well Ive made a lot of friends at Flatstick, hein a city not known for its love of the game? says. I was a transplant from Northern CaliforniaWould people want to play mini-golf while and didnt know many people here for a while,drinking beerboth enjoyable activities by but there is something unique about Flatstickthemselves, but could the Largents assimilate that brings people together. both into one cohesive, successful operation?Kirklands Flatstick Pub opened in JuneWe knew there were no guarantees, but 2014. Behind the new business, where patronswere confident it could work, says Andy. Of could play indoor mini-golf and which offeredcourse there were some concerns, but we felt over two dozen micro-brews on tap as well asgood about it. Brothers Sam (left) and Andy Largent, co-owners of the Flatstick a handful of ciders, were the Largent brothers,Sure enough, it didnt take long for FlatstickPub phenomenon, found what they liked and ran with it. Sam and Andy.Pub to quash any doubts and establish a regular Sam, a former accountant, plowed mostclientele. It quickly became a favorite with the of his savings into the venture after seeingregions media outlets, including local news WA GOLF MEMBER BENEFIT AT FLATSTICK PUBAll day Happy Hour every Sunday. All locations.2 GOLF WASHINGTON|SEPTEMBER 2020'