It’s times like today May 11 National Miniature Golf Day #NationalMiniGolfDay I miss Charlie being small and being able to join Kids Bowl Free a program in Texas that would allow children to bowl two free games a day. My family would go to Alley Cats and sometimes my niece and nephews family and my sister would meet us to bowl with us. Once we finished we would ride G0-Karts or play Video Games and end the evening with Miniature Golf.
Sunday is Mother’s Day and if David wasn’t working a double I would have asked Charlie and David if they would like to play Miniature Golf with me at Alley Cats in Hurst, Texas. Instead I’m going to camp out on the couch under my blanket and watch my favorite movies. No, there isn’t any snacks because I forgot to ask David to leave us any money and that is okay because snacks aren’t on my diet. Would you like to join me for movies and if you want to we can play a game or two.
Here is a question for you. Did you know celebrating Happy National Miniature Golf Day is a wonderful addition to our Homeschool PE Class and it allows us to get in exercise in a new way and even gets us off electronics which is a Godsend. Would you like to join me this week in a game or two of Miniature Golf and if my shoulder isn’t hurting we can even bowl. No, we don’t have to go to Ally Cats to play Miniature Golf I will let you choose where you want to go.
Here is a fun fact for you. Miniature Golf Day is celebrated worldwide on September 21, not to be confused with National Miniature Golf Day celebrated on the second Saturday in May, in the United States. Did you know Miniature golf can be traced back to the 19th Century. Miniature Golf was originally created in Victorian Scotland to allow women to play golf because, at the time, it was considered unladylike for women to raise a golf club above their shoulder level. This basically meant that regular golf was not an option. Now, miniature golf is played worldwide by women, men, and children.
Though the origins of Miniature Golf Day are not completely known, the origin of miniature golf itself is. Many great ideas came from a lack of inclusion, and mini-golf is no exception. Before feminism movements took the world by storm, it was deemed “unladylike” for women to participate in many physical activities or sporting activities like golf. In Victorian Scotland, women were not allowed to raise golf clubs above their heads, which took golf off the table. Instead of sulking or giving up on golf, the Ladies’ Putting Club of St. Andrews created a smaller version of the game in 1867.
Up until the late 19th Century, very few people outside of Europe had heard of miniature golf, not to mention played it. Miniature Golf was then brought to the United States, after which its popularity skyrocketed. Although popular in the U.S., miniature golf was originally only available at hotels or lavish private resorts.
Games weren’t exactly accessible to the general public. Again, due to the lack of inclusion, a great idea was born. In 1916, a man named James Barber from North Carolina established the first classic miniature golf course, called Thistle Dhu. By the early 1930s, the game of mini golf had grown to become a favored pastime across America.
While still played with a series of nine or 18 holes, miniature golf courses are shorter, usually themed, and have a variety of obstacles that add to the difficulty of the game. Because of a group of brave Scottish women and a North Carolina man, miniature golf is accessible to the general public, and miniature golf is played all over the world by people of all ages and denominations.
HOW TO CELEBRATE MINIATURE GOLF DAY
- Today is the perfect day to visit your local mini-golf spot for a few holes of fun and don’t forget to bring your friends or family and make a night of Miniature Golf and you can even host a competition to see the best player.
- Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced the launch of the Florida Historic Mini Golf Trail, which includes six historic miniature golf courses in Florida that are more than 50 years old. The six courses are Putt-Putt Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, Goofy Golf in Fort Walton Beach, Goofy Golf in Panama City Beach, Goofy Golf in Pensacola, Polynesian Putter in St. Pete Beach, and Ripley’s Bayfront Mini Golf in St. Augustine, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Have some fun in your backyard, house, or a public park by creating a course. Incorporate props like your pool, slide, couch, or even the pet. All you need to accomplish this is a few clubs, balls, and your imagination.
FACTS ABOUT GOLF THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
- Did you know some of the first golf balls were purely made of hardwood, including Beech and Box Trees
- According to the health and fitness website ShapeFit.com, your average 190-pound golfer typically burns 431 calories per hour.
- On February 6, 1967, Alan Bartlett ‘Al’ Shepard, Jr. pulled off a one-handed swing with a six-iron golf club and sent the ball soaring through the moon’s low-gravity atmosphere.
- The Scottish government banned golf three times for years following its invention because they believed it interfered with military training.
- The chances of the average golfer executing a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE MINIATURE GOLF DAY
- Although a fun game, miniature golf is proof that common people can overcome oppression. Women weren’t allowed to go, so they created a mini version. And because non-wealthy people weren’t able to access the game, one man created a course.
- What better way to bond than talking over a few holes of miniature golf and laughing at yourself for missing one hole, or even a few holes.
- Anyone can play miniature golf which doesn’t require a large amount of money, skill, or physical abilities.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
