Mini Golf aka Adventure or Crazy Golf

[Alf. S]

Why do people think that golfers like playing Mini Golf. 

I hate it with a vengeance.

1. You play with a putter that usually has the grip falling off that is too small for you. 
2. The ball is usually as hard as a brick
3. Normally on a thread bare piece of carpet
4. You have to hit the ball so hard you can't possibly aim it.
5. Ball normally ends up against a wall or off the course

But still my wife will ask if I want to play it when we pass a course!

Thoughts?

 

[NM01]

It’s a fun time with friends/family especially with those that don’t play regular golf and doesn’t have to be taken serious.

Its not about the game but the time with good people.

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, Alf. S said:

Why do people think that golfers like playing Mini Golf. 

I hate it with a vengeance.

1. You play with a putter that usually has the grip falling off that is too small for you. 
2. The ball is usually as hard as a brick
3. Normally on a thread bare piece of carpet
4. You have to hit the ball so hard you can't possibly aim it.
5. Ball normally ends up against a wall or off the course

But still my wife will ask if I want to play it when we pass a course!

Thoughts?

 

Love mini golf! Wife and I play a decent amount and we get competitive. Even brought the baby with us a few times. 

The unique holes, obstacles, playing both left or right handed, it all provides a fun Challenge that can be enjoyable for any skill level and age. 

Fwiw we even have a foam Minigolf course for our son at home too. 

It's not real golf and it isn't supposed to be!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I really enjoy mini golf as well, mainly because it is a fun activity I can do with my wife and boys (6 & 3). I just go for the fun of it and we literally never keep score. There's a little spot by my in-laws cabin that sells beer and seltzers for the adults and slushies for the kids, and then they have ice cream we finish the round off with afterwards. For me it's just a unique way to get to spend quality time with my family. 

If you're taking it seriously, you're doing it wrong in my opinion. 

[richk9holes]

1. You're allowed to bring your own putter.

2. Same with ball, though I've been to places that require use of their ball because a ball collection area is incorporated into the final hole.

3. Condition varies as much as on real golf courses. I've played on dirt patches claiming to be 68.9/123 rated courses. I played this week at a mini golf that had 36 holes immaculately kept. They hosted the US Open of competitive putt putt, which is actually a thing I learned.

4. Uphill holes require a solid smack and planning on bouncing around a bit, but that's only half the story. I watched my Dad bend one in from 35' away the other day. That ball was touched.

5. Same as resting against an obstruction on a golf course, you get a certain distance relief. And for going OB there are rules stated, most commonly the place where you go off course you place it back there with a penalty. Actually more organized than most "real golf" I witness. Lots of hitting from OB, lots of lateral drops.

[JerryB]

I'm with you @Alf. S, not a fan.  Did it a few times when the kids were younger but inevitably someone pouts (to be fair, that's the case on pretty much every family event, but still).  Now that my youngest are teenagers mini golf just isn't their cup of tee.  I'm supposed to play a round this week as part of the Cobra Challenge and I can't get anyone to join me.  It's too hot to be enjoyable and the only one nearby really isn't worth the effort.  Mini golf can be fun if the course is inspiring like the one @richk9holes played but otherwise its a pretty hard pass for me.

[chisag]

7 hours ago, Alf. S said:

Why do people think that golfers like playing Mini Golf. 

I hate it with a vengeance.

1. You play with a putter that usually has the grip falling off that is too small for you. 
2. The ball is usually as hard as a brick
3. Normally on a thread bare piece of carpet
4. You have to hit the ball so hard you can't possibly aim it.
5. Ball normally ends up against a wall or off the course

But still my wife will ask if I want to play it when we pass a course!

Thoughts?

 

 

... You make some good points but if my choice is:

1. Mini Golf

2. A savoury pudding containing a sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal's stomach with WARM BEER  


... I am playing mini golf. 

[richk9holes]

@chisag

"I think most Scottish food is based on a dare."

 

[Q22Golf]

Ha, I think the same! I love golf. And always want to play mini golf! But I rarely win because the game never rolls true. And always get a bit frustrated when I lose to my wife and kiddos LOL  

[HeathS16]

I am always down for a game of mini golf. I go on a boys trip every year to Branson and we get AT LEAST 1 round of mini golf in after dinner one night. More about the company than anything else. Another fun thing to do to mix up putting practice is to make your own course on a practice putting green (while also being aware of others on the green, don't worry). Big fan of the mini golf.  

[Alf. S]

7 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... You make some good points but if my choice is:

1. Mini Golf

2. A savoury pudding containing a sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal's stomach with WARM BEER  


... I am playing mini golf. 

You cannae beat a good cooked Haggis, My favourite is a chicken breast stuffed with it and covered with a whisky sauce. 

 

[Caddie1966]

Seems in my experience mini golf revolves around kids.  When mine were young, I would play with them while my wife got some well needed break time from the girls.  Now, it’s a required venture every summer with my grandsons.  Ultra competitive now and my wife is right in the middle of it, making her claim just like the rest of us.  
I do have one question though, why is it the vast majority of mini golf. Purses seem to have a pirate theme?

[chisag]

11 hours ago, Alf. S said:

You cannae beat a good cooked Haggis, My favourite is a chicken breast stuffed with it and covered with a whisky sauce. 

 

 

... Sure you can. Use a baseball bat, or a canoe paddle or a garbage disposal. Whatever it takes. 

[richk9holes]

But, please more about the haggis...

[Alf. S]

 

4 hours ago, richk9holes said:

But, please more about the haggis...

OK you've asked for it.

Not just in Scotland but all over the UK the traditional butchers have created what are called "puddings" from the non prime parts of the animals. The butchers never divulge their exact recipes but the 3 most famous are White Pudding, Black Pudding and of course Haggis. They are all part of the National Cooked Breakfasts. 

Scottish = bacon, sausage, fried egg, beans, mushrooms and haggis

English = change haggis for black pudding

The traditional way to eat Haggis is with mashed potatoes and mashed turnip (swede). This is referred to as Haggis and Neeps

Scotland's national poet Rabbie Burns (Auld Lang Syne) birthday is celebrated on the 25th January throughout Scotland with local societies and groups holding Burn's Suppers which will be Haggis and Neeps and toasts made up of whisky. A Large Haggis (usually Sheep's stomach encased) will be piped (bag piper) into the banquet hall  and the toastmaster will recite Burn's poem to "Address to the Haggis" before bursting it open with a knife to be served.

As said in my previous post it is now used as an ingredient and it is common to see Steak Balmoral or Chicken Balmoral served in restaurants. This is Steak or Chicken served with a whisky cream sauce and either stuffed or on a bed of Haggis. And also as a starter Haggis bon bons

The traditional Haggis is cooked in a Sheep's stomach but this is not very common any longer but you can still get them from butchers. The supermarkets stock it either in a synthetic skin or in slices and in various sizes. For me I sometime buy the slices and grill or fry them and put them in a roll/bun.

Long before McDonalds or KFC came to Scotland, post war an influx of Italians came to Scotland. The original Scottish fast food was the Italian chippie, Fish Supper (Fish and Chips); deep fried Fish in batter with thick cut deep fried potatoes (not crisps). Their menu evolved to deep frying everything with Chips, black pudding, quarter of chicken, PIZZA, chocolate and of course Haggis. This is also probably why Scotland leads the World in the level of Chronic Heart Disease. 

Like many foods there is good Haggis and bad. The key in my view is the moisture, too dry and it disintegrates during cooking, too moist and it feels gooey in your mouth. If you find a good butcher that makes a good one you go back to him.

Do I eat it all the time, sitting in my kilt and saying "Och Aye the noo" like in Brig a doon, no but I probably have it once or twice a month. Before you get too judgemental I would suggest you look at where some of your "locally" produced food comes from and how it is produced. Burgers and Sausages can hide anything. 

And it is definitely more exciting than playing Mini Golf.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Alf. S

[CigarsRumGolf]

PopStroke if you want real mini golf. They had a $25,000 winner take all in January.

[Dweed]

Fun to play with the grandkids. Never have expectations but watch for all the laughs.