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Scott Melby, owner of Indy Custom Cornhole, says the game's popularity has yet to peak here. Sets range from $150 to $180. (Steve Sanchez / The Indianapolis Star)

The official, customized bean bag of Indy Custom Cornhole competitions. (Doug McSchooler/for The Star)

Interested in cornhole, but don't know where to start? Scott Melby is your man.

Melby, 39, owns Indy Custom Cornhole, the only local business that specializes exclusively in cornhole sets and accessories. He also organizes regular tournaments at bars and other locations around town.

When did you first encounter cornhole?

At a Cincinnati Reds game in the late '90s. I only saw a few sets that time, but then at another Reds game in 2000, it was a beautiful day and there were sets everywhere. I called a friend from Cincinnati who lives in Indianapolis and asked, "What's going on here?" And he said, "Oh, that's cornhole. I have a set." And I was like, "You have a set? Why haven't we been playing?"

Is that when you built your first set?

A buddy and I built two, just because we wanted to play. Then, guys in our crew wanted their own sets. No big deal -- we could build a couple of more, no problem. But when friends of friends started wanting sets, I decided to start charging money. The demand got bigger over the next couple of years, and I realized there's a market for this.

Why do you think it's become so popular?

It's fun. Anybody can play it. You can move the boards closer together and kids can play. It's easy to learn and the rules are simple.

Do you think you're partly responsible for its popularity in Indianapolis?

I don't know, maybe just a little. I think colleges are a big part of it. It spreads like wildfire in college areas.

Has the name "cornhole" made it a challenge to sell?

That was the thing those first few years -- people would be like, "Oh, this looks fun, what is it?" And you'd say "Cornhole," and get funny looks. And I'm like, "It's not sodomy, all right? It's a game." But for a while, people were definitely like, "Indy Custom what?"

What has business growth been like?

I would say from '03 to '05, it was more of a slow growth. But in the last two years the game has double or tripled in popularity, and I expect it will probably triple again this year. I think it is at least another year away from peaking in Indy -- at least.

How much is a cornhole set going to put me out?

An unfinished set with bags and a tote is $150. It's $170 if you want it stained, and $180 if you want it painted one color. Customizing is a big thing, too. We have done customized sets for the Pacers and BMG Music. Renting is big as well -- Taco Bell has rented from us at least two or three times for work parties.

What's your opinion of similar games that can be bought at big sporting goods stores, like "Baggo?"

About one in five of my customers had first bought Baggo and was like, "This is awful, I need to get something better."