Lincoln Children's Zoo

We had the opportunity to participate in the Lincoln Children's Zoo: Puttin' for the Penguins, a fundraiser to promote their new penguin exhibit. The weather was wonderful and the participants had a great time playing miniature golf for an excellent exhibit. I also had a chance to wander around the zoo and really enjoyed it. If you are in the Lincoln, NE area and have kids, I would highly recommend it.

Des Moines Ren Faire

Well it was back to Renaissance Scotland this weekend as we took part in the Des Moines Renaissance Faire. We had a good time (despite a bit of a sunburn for both me and my oldest son). We were right next to the fencing demonstration and the Highland Games demonstration. Both groups were great to get to know and really made for a fun experience. And then of course there were the patrons. I always love to see the costumes that people create for the faire. You can tell how much fun they had making them. We had pirate golfers, knight golfers, fair maiden golfers, a gnome golfer, and even a dragon golfer. If you haven't had a chance to get to the faire, there is still one more weekend to go. Huzzah!!!

Boy Scouts of America

Another super event last night. The Boy Scouts in West Branch had their kickoff last night and our course was on hand. The course was a big hit and the scouts (and future scouts) had a great time. The weather was perfect and it was a real family event. This was our second event in West Branch (our first was the Hooverfest) and I hope we have the chance to go back many times in the future.

Winding Staircase Festival

Another great town festival. The Winding Staircase Festival in Traer was a great success!! The Boy Scouts used it as a fund raiser and the kids came in droves to test their putting skills. Many thanks to all the volunteers. Keep up the good work!

Poweshiek County Fair

We had a great time at the Poweshiek County Fair in Grinnell a couple of weeks ago. The weather was threatening but the rain held off and everyone had a great time. Kids and adults played a lot of rounds of mini golf as well as the many other activities at the fair. We had the opportunity to spend some time at the fair and explore downtown Grinnell as well.

Happy Birthday!!

We had the chance yesterday to be part of a great birthday party. Even though it was hot, a great time was had by all. Since there was limited shade in the yard, we set up in the driveway, through the garage and back onto the patio. It was a unique opportunity to set up the course and it worked out great. Plenty of shade and a chance to play both indoors and out.

Iowa Ren Fest

Over Memorial Day weekend we took part in the Iowa Renaissance Festival (and Gathering of the Celts) in Middle Amana, IA. We used our wooden course to stay in the Renaissance theme. Wooden golf clubs and wooden golf balls helped to complete the historic illusion. The weather was excellent (although a little on the warm side on Saturday and Sunday) and the crowds were good. Many were surprised to see a miniature golf course at a Ren Fest event, but they soon saw how it fit into the theme and they quickly got into the spirit. A hearty "Huzzah" to all the Ren Fest attendees.

Tanager Summer Fest

We had a great time at the Tanager Summer Fest yesterday (despite a late arrival by a thunderstorm). They put on a great festival and we were proud to be a part of it. We had a very large crowd (see pic) and it was a fun time for all. We were pleased at how our course held up to the numbers and how it held up in the rain as well. We hope to be a part of this event from now on.

Two Events In A Row

We had two great school events this past weekend. The first one was Friday afternoon. We got to participate in the Harding Middle School ChargerFest. We had hoped to be able to set up int he parking lot, but due to the rain, the event had to be moved indoors. We set up in the gymnasium balcony (our second balcony layout).

Then on Saturday night, we were at the West Marshall High School - After Prom Party in State Center. Once again the rain was a factor, but the event had been planned inside, so it didn't hinder our set-up. Fun was had by all, but I think all the adults were ready to go home by the time the party finished at 4:00 am.

Miniature Golf Goes to College

Our latest event was joining Mount Mercy's participation in the National Recreation Intramural and Recreation Day on Monday, February 22nd. We set up in the balcony of the Hennessy Recreational Center. The long, narrow set-up gave us a chance to utilize the flexability of our course. We recieved very positive feedback as participants had a great time.

A special thanks to the team that helped us set up and take down the course. The group was composed mostly of students and they did a great job.

Another Great Church Event!

We had the opportunity last weekend to be a part of St. Paul's United Methodist Church youth fundraiser - The PGA (Praise God Always) Open. They not only had the golf tournament, but they also sold T-Shirts (see pic) and held a luncheon in their "clubhouse". It was a great event to be part of and a fun time was had by all.

Obstacles at a Glance - The Maze

The Maze is a terrific finishing hole. If you miss the center alley, the side rails can bring the ball rolling straight back to it's starting point. It's perfect for the final hole because it can keep the scores in question, right up to the end. You can easily run up several strokes or hit the perfect shot for a hole in one.

Obstacles at a Glance - Acapulco

The Acapulco (so named by the designer because it reminded him of a water slide he once saw in Mexico), is another challenging hole. With its unique spiral design, it requires just the right amount of speed. Too little speed and the ball just rolls back down the spiral and you are back to where you started. Too much speed and the ball sails into waiting sunset. Either way, it's bound to be the talk of the round.

Obstacles at a Glance - The 360

This is probably the most recognizable of the miniature golf obstacles, the loop-the-loop (or as it's called with our course, The 360. This has been a staple of the miniature golf course for more than 80 years. Even after all that time it continues to entertain (and occasionally frustrate) miniature golfers around the world.

Obstacles at a Glance - The Tower

I've decided to give a brief description of the different obstacles that come with our miniature golf course. Along with some thoughts regarding each one.

First up is The Tower. Although this obstacle looks innocent enough, it has proven to be one of the more challenging holes of the course. The combination of accuracy (hitting between the turrets) and speed (up, but not over the hill) needed for this hole has invited the most skillful player to test their putting prowess.

First Corporate Event of the New Year

We had our first corporate event of the year last Friday in Chicago. An insurance company rented the course for their holiday party. A great time was had by all. We set the course up to meander around the cubicles and offices. They were very organized and held their own mini-golf tournament (complete with prizes). They were a great group to work with and gave excellent feedback regarding the challenge levels of the individual obstacles. The winner (most challenging) was The Tower (see picture). We had a great time and look forward to a return trip to Chicago.