Seven layers of birch. One real golf course. A pretty slick paint trick. And a business opportunity hiding in plain sight.
In our last video, we talked about why the golf industry is such an interesting market for laser businesses. This time, we decided to stop talking about it and actually make something.
We took the Gold Course at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia and turned it into a seven-layer wooden map with a custom engraved plaque. And no, you don't need to be a golfer to make or sell one. You barely need to know which end of the club to hold. (Garrett called it a racket.)
The finished map: seven layers of birch on a custom-engraved plaque. Yep, that's a real golf course.
▶ WATCH THE FULL BUILD
HERE'S THE REAL OPPORTUNITY
People don't just remember a round of golf. They remember where they played it.
Their home course. The vacation course. The place they finally broke 80. The course where the score was so bad nobody has spoken of it since. You're selling a connection to a place—not just a piece of wood.
The Project at a Glance
7 LAYERS
Birch plywood, stacked for dimension
REAL COURSE
Golden Horseshoe's Gold Course
$125
Our proposed price for the finished gift
How We Made It
01 / Clicks, Clacks & a Real Golf Course
We used Maker.Studio (formerly Laser Map Maker) to generate the layered design. We selected the real course, chose its outline, and built the terrain with four elevation layers, plus details for fairways, bunkers, tees, water, and trees.
The software did the heavy lifting on the map geometry. We also explored its rectangular layout and built-in plaque options before choosing a separate wooden plaque for our finished piece. Same course, more room for personalization.
The separate plaque gives the course stats—and a customer's personalization—a place to live.
02 / Paint the Boards BEFORE Cutting
Here's the production trick we really wanted to show: we pre-painted the birch instead of trying to paint hundreds of tiny pieces after cutting. Nobody needs that particular hobby.
One coat: a medium green that still shows the woodgrain.
Baby-wipe technique: gently remove some wet paint for a lighter, stained look.
Two coats: a deeper green for stronger contrast.
We ultimately alternated lighter and darker terraces, then brought in Apple Raid Green for the fairways and Mossy Earth for the trees.
A finished close-up showing how the different greens and visible woodgrain create contrast.
K&G PRODUCTION TIP: Pre-painting isn't just about getting pretty colors. It's about avoiding a pile of fiddly finishing work after the laser runs. Keep the protective masking on during cutting and engraving to help with cleanup.
03 / Let the xTool X1 Do Its Thing
We imported our layers into xTool Studio and put two different laser capabilities to work: the 55W CO₂ for cutting the birch and the 20W diode galvo for fast engraving and scoring.
The fun part is the galvo-on-a-gantry setup. The mirrors handle the fast engraving while the moving gantry lets the system cover a much larger work area. We also engraved the custom course details on a separate plaque for a finished, gift-worthy presentation.
04 / Stack It, Glue It, Try Not to Lose a Tree
After cutting, it was time to build up those seven layers. We used Starbond Thick CA with a micro tip to place and secure the smaller details without wrestling adhesive backing off every little piece.
This is where the project went from a bunch of funny-looking shapes to a real, dimensional golf course. The staggered greens, raised trees, and engraved course plaque made the finished piece feel like a gift rather than another generic golf sign.
A closer look at the stacked layers. This is the detail you just don't get from a flat engraving.
Okay, But Who Buys a $125 Golf Map?
This is the part we want laser business owners thinking about. Don't just list a product and hope a golfer wanders past it. Think about who has a reason to buy a memory of that specific course.
⛳ Golf Course Pro ShopsOffer a personalized version of the course they already sell rounds on. A meaningful souvenir beats another generic trinket.
🎁 Retirement & Milestone GiftsA favorite course from decades of play can mean a lot more than something with a generic golf pun on it.
🏠 Individual GolfersHome courses, bucket-list rounds, golf trips, and places tied to a great memory.
THE PRICING CONVERSATION
$125 proposed retail price
That's where we think a finished, customized version like this could be priced. The wood may be inexpensive, but don't confuse materials with total cost. You've still got design time, machine time, finishing, labor, packaging, and selling fees to account for. Price the whole job—not just the plywood.
Tools & Supplies We Used
If you want to try a layered golf course map yourself, here's where to start:
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases through those links may support our channel at no additional cost to you.
WANT MORE IDEAS LIKE THIS?
One Good Product. One Good Customer. One Solid Offer.
That's the whole point of exploring markets like golf. You don't have to make everything for everybody. Find the right product, the right person, and a reason they'll buy.
If you're ready to turn more of your laser projects into products people actually want to buy, come hang out with the Make It Mafia. SVGs, design help, maker tips, business conversations, and a whole lot of people who understand why you're covered in sawdust.
