If you’ve minigolfed with young children, you’re likely aware that it’s a dangerous activity that could require hospitalization.
To read about the mini-putt injuries we sustained when Vivian and William were four years old, please go to my humour column, which was published in yesterday’s Calgary Herald. Click here: Minigolfing with Kids: A Bad Idea.
Then come back to the comments section below and tell me your golfing stories, whether they be of the mini-putt variety or the real thing.
I hope your shin has recovered! That seems like exactly what happened when Boo and Radley played. Except around half way through they get frustrated and start cheating.
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t understand putt-putt. After about 4 holes, I’m done playing.
They must have been following the rules, though, if they could cheat…
I remember going to a glow-in-the-dark cave putt-putt when I was about the age your twins were and loving it! My parents refused to ever take me again. I don’t think I ever understood why until now. Thanks for the revelation. And I hope all the physical (and psychological) damage from your minigolf outing has been mostly healed.
Yes…the other side! It’s healed. My sister took us to bumper boats and go-karts instead. Although that ended in one twin sobbing too…
My adventures with mini-golfing proved that the owners had definitely worked with young kids. My youngest managed to tee off on hole #1 and have the ball sucked down the black hole on #18 (which was adjacent to #1) and wonder why it didn’t come back to her. The manager on duty promptly gave us another ball without cracking a smile. He’d been there – done that.
See: who designs these courses? Hole 1 and 18 should at least be separated by a half wall…
We were once asked if we wanted a free game (after Thing 1 melted down). I said, “Not on your life.”
I’ve never had a root canal, but you’d be surprised how many times I say that in lieu of a certain activity, I’d rather have a pap smear.
Or maybe you wouldn’t be surprised.
Because you have gone minigolfing with kids. And I’m quite certain now that a pap smear is preferable.
Happy Friday!
Pap smear. Ya. I’ve had more of those than root canals…
I could feel your pain.
We once (let me repeat that) we once had a mini-golfing birthday party for Monkey.
Never again.
We should have just handed them Light Sabers. Or sharp sticks. Or swords.
So many Band-Aids, that day.
You are a brave woman. Next year I’m letting each of my things choose two friends to take to the movies…
(1) Darkness
(2) Quiet
I think I found the secret.
I onced ask a girl out to go mini-golfing. She met up with another guy and ended up making out with him that night. That was the last time I thought that min-golf was a good idea for a date.
Ouch! I’m surprised you didn’t resort to using the club as a weapon.
we just played black light mini golf which means golf balls were being hit really hard in the dark. It was completely safe.
Completely safe, no doubt…
Glad you lived to comment!
I once was a summer counselor at a camp for underprivileged children, so part way through the summer we had “Christmas in July” complete with presents. We never forgave the management for giving baseball bats (they were at least plastic, but still!) as presents to the cabin of 6 year old boys. I think we had to confiscate almost all of them. … but it was fun to see the kids eyes light up when Santa walked into the mess hall (and we let the kids keep the squishy balls). Just think if they’d been made of metal like those golf putters!
What a memory. You described it well.
Yes, golf clubs are better….if left to adults.
So the fight over who went first just lasted the first two holes, right?
Ground rules were made quickly, let me tell you.
I prefer the strategy of explaining to children at a young age that mini golf is a pro circuit and not just anybody can play there. Love the column.
My kids are 19, 18 and 17 and we still go mini golfing occasionally. Last time we went, my 18 year old kept swinging at mosquitoes. That seemed a little less effective than Off! to me…
We have a Monster Minigolf here. Black light, with monsters. Ends with a clown. I have a legit clown phobia. I channelled all my clown rage at that last hole, closed my eyes and got a hole in one. Kids were so mad they never asked to go again.