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Argentina  INESfun

22 Feb 2020 at 13:37

There are about 300 recesses on one golf ball, and thanks to them, the ball flies three times farther than a smooth one. ... Balls of the same size...

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United States of America  Smitty

07 Jun 2023 at 04:45

Jason and team make this place beautiful and the tournament is fun and well run.

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Lights! Camera! Minigolf! (Part 1 - The Simpsons)


World 18 Mar 2020 at 12:53 | Published by: PatPenguin | Views: 20667 | News search

Lights! Camera! Minigolf! (Part 1 - The Simpsons)
Bart Enjoying Clarity on the Tee  (Photo by Frinkiac.com)

Given a large amount of the world is staying home to help suppress the spread of COVID-19 and likely watching a lot of television, we thought it might be fun to look at some shows and movies where minigolf has taken center stage for an episode. If you are interested in seeing more about an entire show devoted to miniature golf, you can check out our past articles on Holey Moley (which unfortunately had some production issues on their international season due to the virus) here and here. We'll give a breakdown of the episode and also pepper in our thoughts on what they might have done right or wrong in the show.

To kick off this series we're going to start with what is likely the most high profile occurrence of miniature golf as it appeared in an early episode of
The Simpsons (note: in the US streaming of The Simpsons has moved to Disney+). The episode, entitled Dead Putting Society was the sixth episode of the shows second season (it is now the longest running primetime scripted show in history), so it arrived on the scene before The Simpsons were the global phenomenon they are now. (Editor's Note: It's also my favorite show of all time.)

The play takes place at
Sir Putt-A-Lot's Merrie Olde Fun Centre, which has been visited quite a few times overt the show's run, including a couple of times by Homer and Marge in some rather "adult" ways. It's a typical crazy golf course with animated obstacles ranging from a gorilla to Abraham Lincoln. However, the course also seems to be designed in such a way that a variety of aces are possible as seen throughout the episode. So while it's not too similar to the courses where most of our MOS tournaments are played, the similarity of scoring is there.

For those of you not familiar with the episode, it starts as a neighborly dispute between Homer and Ned as Homer believes Ned is flaunting his slightly more affluent middle-class nature. Ned is torn up about this breakdown in neighborly relations and sends Homer a note, which is promptly made fun of by the whole family. It's then that Homer tries to get the whole Simpson clan to the minigolf course but Lisa and Marge back out, leaving Homer alone to bring Bart and Maggie.

This is when the episode turns much more minigolf-centric as Homer gets into some antics including having to play it where it lies and running up against a 6 stroke limit. Homer's hopping like an ape is one of the more classic miniature golf frustration scenes, right up there with Happy and the clown. During the round, they "happen" to meet up with Ned and his son Todd which re-ignites a bit of the rivalry. When Todd and Bart witness a sign for a tournament (first place $50 - might have been a bit ahead of its time considering some of what the local pots still are at these days), the scene turns into a classic case of adults meddling in the affairs of children, which results in a bet as to who will win the tournament.

Bart is understandably upset, not for just being used a pawn in his Dad's one-ups-man-ship, but also because, as he notes, he's never won anything in his life. With Homer's tutelage less than ideal (though there is a fun sequence where Homer gets Bart to name his putter which I suspect many serious putters have done), Lisa steps in to help her brother conquer not only the outer aspects of putting but the inner aspects of inner peace needed on on the greens.

Dead Putting Society
Bart learning the ropes

It's a sequence that strikes pretty close to home for anyone who has participated in serious miniature golf tournaments. Mapping out the best paths to the holes and understanding the geometry is a basic for anyone who has taken the greens in those big tournaments. At the same time many of us employ various tactics to keep us grounded and focused during a tournament, be it meditation, listening to music or any other way to keep our mind's eye on besting the course.

Meanwhile, another scene that might be familiar to minigolfers around the world is making some friendly wagers on the rounds. In this case Ned and Home agree that the father of the "boy who doesn't win" has to mow the other's lawn in their wife's Sunday best outfit. Of course that specific verbiage will come into play later on.

On the morning of the tournament there is yet another familiar scene as Lisa runs through the holes with Bart, which is something I know many of us do in our own heads leading up to tee off time. The tournament is of course slightly overblown with local radio coverage and it looks to be some version of a single elimination bracket, though not match play - full 18 scores. That's a bit unusual for a miniature golf tournament and would make for a grueling day no matter what your age. There's a fun montage of the tournament, which eventually leads to the telegraphed conclusion of Bart and Todd playing against each other in the finals.

The stress of the event and the final hole leads Bart and Todd to do something interesting. Instead of fighting it out to the end, they decide they will be better off agreeing to a tie and saving themselves the stress. It's not the ending many of us would choose were we in that position, but given they are kids it's a nice nod by the show to highlight that's not always about winning, it can be about enjoyment of the game. That's a sentiment we wholeheartedly share here at Minigolfnews and it's nice to see that even in a not-too-serious show like the Simpsons a lesson like that can be taught.

Of course because neither child "won" it means that both Ned and Homer have to do the lawn mowing in their wives' dresses. Naturally Homer is dismayed that Ned actually seems to be enjoying, but that's the Simpson/Flanders relationship in a nutshell.

Overall while the episode is silly, it is one of the better looks at a miniature golf tournament on television even if it's through the eyes of a child. We only wish someone would build this as a real course to play!

Stay safe everyone and be sure to #puttathome!



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Shhh...Library Minigolf Part 6

United States of America 16 Mar 2020 at 14:19 | views: 17898 | Comments: 0

It's that time of year in the United States when the weather has been cold and many local libraries normally look for ways to remind their communities that they are a great place to pass those cold, dark hours. This year, with the spread of COVID-19 we're going ...
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Shhh...Library Minigolf Part 6

SAGM 2020 Interview with Hans Olofsson

SAGM 2020 Interview with Hans Olofsson

Sweden 24 Feb 2020 at 13:55 | views: 24708 | Comments: 2

The 3rd Swedish Adventure Golf Masters (SAGM) is being held this year on August 29 & 30, 2020 in Ekerö just outside of Stockholm. It’s organized by Kristineberg's Bangolfklubb in collaboration with the Swedish Bangolf Förbundet. SAGM is a one-golf-ball event ...
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Interview with Alberto Pirovano

Italy 06 Feb 2020 at 14:13 | views: 23694 | Comments: 0

Recently, the XXIV Nissan Trofeo Night Marathon took place in Vedano al Lambro on the outskirts of Monza, Italy. This historic part of Lombardy is one of the most fashionable places in the world, with Milan just a short bus ride away. Monza is most famous for ...
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Interview with Alberto Pirovano

23rd Internationales Hallenteamgolf Wraps Up

23rd Internationales Hallenteamgolf Wraps Up

Switzerland 30 Jan 2020 at 13:05 | views: 19778 | Comments: 0

The last weekend in January every year brings many pairs of minigolfers to the beautiful indoor Minigolf course in Bassersdorf, Switzerland. The 80% indoor concrete course was built back in 1981, but still is a great course to play tournaments on. In 2020 the ...
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