Minigolf is also a driver for tourism, competition, charity events and good, clean fun — and all those factors are on display this fall. From an international minigolf tournament to fundraisers for local charities, there’s more to minigolf than meets the putting surface.
The Masters of Minigolf held its 30th annual event Oct. 7-10 at three area courses.
Terry Massey/Staff
Masters of Minigolf
When Bob Detwiler left teaching to get into the minigolf business three decades ago, he had to get creative to garner publicity. So he launched the U.S. Open of Prominigolf and Masters of Minigolf, which held its 30th annual event Oct. 7-10 at three area courses.
“I needed to promote or advertise, and I prefer promotion over advertising because people pay more attention to it,” said Detwiler, whose event has been featured on major TV networks and other national media. “We have another record-breaking field, so it has worked.”
The Masters of Minigolf attracted a record field of over 90 players hailing from as far away as Europe and the U.S. West Coast. The only common thread between this tournament and the namesake event held at Augusta National Golf Club is the ceremonial presentation of the winner’s green jacket, which went to Joey Graybeal of Bristol, Tenn.
A group of 15 players made the trip all the way from Stockholm, Sweden, including two-time Masters of Minigolf champion Hans Olsen. He was enshrined in the U.S. Prominigolf Hall of Fame (yes, there is such a thing) over the weekend along with fellow inductee Gary Hester of Calabash, N.C., who has been putt-putting around the world as a member of the U.S. national minigolf team (yes, there’s one of those too).
“I’ve been to Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Czech Republic — all as part of Team USA,” said Hester, 70, who began playing minigolf competitively at the age of 13 at an Arnold Palmer-sponsored minigolf franchise in High Point, N.C. “What a way to see the world.”
One might think Detwiler couldn’t have imagined the sport and his tournaments would reach the level they have, but he claims he did.