Failure™ Magazine

As The Windmill Turns

The U.S. professional minigolf tour goes for the green.

Written by Jason Zasky   Filed under Sports

For most Americans, miniature golf is nothing more than a leisure activity—one that conjures up images of gimmicky theme courses, golf balls in assorted colors, and of course, windmills. But for a dedicated few, miniature golf is a competitive sport, with its own pro tour, cash purses and corporate sponsors. At the moment, everything about pro miniature golf is, well, mini—but that hasn’t stopped its promoters from thinking big, and trying to change the sport’s image in the process.

In September, thirty-three dedicated miniature golfers descended on North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to compete in the sport’s most prestigious event—the Minigolf Masters. The three-day tournament attracts players from around the world; this year’s tourney lured competitors from as far away as the Czech Republic. The contestants played a surprisingly grueling 14 rounds on three different public courses—in this case, Hawaiian Rumble, Sutter’s Mill, and Hawaiian Caverns—with first place awarded to the player with the lowest cumulative score.

The Masters—as well the sport’s other “major” event, the U.S. Open—is the brainchild of Bob Detwiler, founder/president of the U.S. Pro Minigolf Association (USPMGA) and owner of the three courses on which the Masters is held. “The main thing I’m trying to do here is educate people in the United States that there is a competitive side to miniature golf,” says Detwiler. But overcoming minigolf’s reputation is a daunting task, and it seems every pro has a story about being mocked for his or her commitment to the game. According to Steve Norman, a two-time Masters winner from Farmers Branch, Texas, “I get razzed about playing. But you tell people how much money you can make in a tournament [and that shuts them up].”

“It’s a victim of its own reputation,” says Gary Shiff, organizer of the Minigolf Hartford Open and twelfth-place finisher at this year’s Masters. He, for one, would like to see more golfers take miniature golf seriously. “We have very talented players here but I’m sure there are quite a few golfers who are very good putters that either don’t know about the competition or don’t realize they can use their skills on this level.” Of course, much of the terminology is interchangeable. Phrases like “reading the break,” “going to school” and “I pushed/pulled it,” mean the same thing no matter where you are putting. According to Shiff, a golfer with a good short game should be able to transfer his or her skills fairly easily. “It takes a little more speed control, but it still comes down to fundamentals. If you’re a good putter you should be able to pick this up,” he says.

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