A friend relies on a floating object game in a water pool, earning over a million yuan quietly every year! Understanding this model will elevate your business awareness to a new level.

Lao Li took me to a high-end golf course, but we didn't play golf. Instead, he led me straight to a man-made lake at the edge of the course.
In the center of the lake, about 100 meters from the shore, there was a miniature golf green floating, with a small flag planted on it.
On the shore, there was a sunshade, several automatic ball machines, and a huge billboard:
Hole-in-one, cash reward of 50k yuan.
The challenge price was also very affordable: 100 yuan for 20 balls.
My first reaction was, isn’t this just a ring toss game at an amusement park? Lao Li smiled and explained everything to me.
This seemingly insignificant floating object in the lake, aside from dividing the course area, can bring him a net profit of 800,000 to 1.2 million yuan annually.
After hearing his analysis, I realized this is not just a sports industry but actually gambling!
Many people see the 50k yuan prize and think the risk is too high—what if a master comes along and makes three hole-in-ones in a row? Wouldn’t he lose everything?
This is the difference between poor and rich thinking. Lao Li isn’t doing a luck-based business; he’s doing absolute arbitrage in mathematics.
Amateur golfers have about a 1 in 25,000 chance of making a hole-in-one on a par 3 hole. Let’s do some calculations.
According to probability, every 25,000 balls hit, Lao Li needs to pay out a 50k yuan prize once.
Customers buy balls at 100 yuan for 20 balls, which is 5 yuan per ball.
The sales volume for 25,000 balls is 125,000 yuan.
This means that after completing one probability cycle, Lao Li’s gross profit is 75,000 yuan.
This doesn’t even include the fact that many beginners miss the ball entirely and just hit it into the water.
His operating costs are extremely low. The hole cups on the green are equipped with sensors that automatically announce when a ball goes in.
Usually, he only needs to hire a college student to sit by the shore to collect money and distribute balls.
Every Sunday night, he spends a little money to hire a diver to go underwater and retrieve these thousands of golf balls for reuse.
This is the essence of business: don’t gamble on luck; make money from mathematical laws.
As long as the base number is large enough, probability becomes your most loyal worker.
For the partner golf courses, this adds a feature check-in point at zero cost and can generate extra income out of thin air.
For Lao Li, he directly captures the most valuable and highest-spending customers in the course.
Lao Li’s water golf is actually a perfect business closed loop.
Next time you go shopping or have fun, don’t just be a consumer.
Step back and observe the setup from an outsider’s perspective, and you’ll find opportunities everywhere.