Written by Though it’s been more than a decade since I played the game, I’m thrilled that today is Miniature Golf Day. I used to love playing this game as a kid, dodging those dastardly windmills, or in the case of the park I visited where I lived, sending a golf ball sailing into the mouth of a dragon. Or at least a rusty painted metal facsimile of a dragon’s head. I’m assuming the rest of the dragon was meant to be underground, but the effect was still cool when you were staring it down trying to make that last putt. Perhaps it was meant to represent a crocodile, but I’m sticking with dragon. We called it mini golf and though the game was miniature compared to the expansive green hills of regular golf, the contraptions were often larger than life. From rockets to castles, the subject matter would be perfectly random and the only theme that held it all together was fun! Not too terribly different than my blog posts, actually. I was really pretty good at the game, which made it fun as it’s not terribly enjoyable to totally suck at something. So, I had a blast!
In high school, a mini golf course was a popular spot to bring dates. Mostly because it was a perfectly cheap date, and in the case of a first date, it gave you something to do, making the whole experience less awkward. Even if one of you wasn’t a fan of miniature golf, at least the very act of playing it meant that in that particular moment you had something in common. The only thing to consider was if the other person was lousy, you had to decide if the date was going well enough to let them win. Of course, if by hole 4, you already knew this was likely going to be the first and last date, then you could happily chuck chivalry altogether and play for the win so the evening wasn’t a complete loss. Looking back, I think I tended to struggle through those particular games as the extra stress of the date itself was a bit of a distraction. This is probably why I always jump farther back in time with my stories to the ones that took place before high school. Those days were just a bit less complicated.
I went back as an adult to relive those mini golf memories just after I turned 40. It was fun playing like a kid again, but it just wasn’t the same. For one thing, I was now over 6 feet tall and towered over most of the contraptions. The ones that had seem larger than life when I was a kid now looked well, mini, and just weren’t quite a cool as they were back then. The only thing that hadn’t changed was that I was still pretty good at the game. I’ve never even attempted to play a game of actual golf, because I already know my attention span won’t last for four hours. But give me just 45 minutes to happily putt a ball about and I’m perfectly happy. Come to think of it, that’s pretty much the same for my daily illustrations and stories that I post here. It’s always been more fun for me to taste experiences rather than devour them whole. But thankfully, doing something daily, even for a little bit helps me improve over time. So, whether it’s a rousing game of putt-putt or a bit of time spent with a brush, I’m more than happy to celebrate the lovely idea of miniature golf day.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Vermilion, and Indigo (My “Vintage” Trio!). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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This is just delightful! Great job on painting the little person and the Dragon. !
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕So happy you enjoyed this one! One of my rare attempts as a human… the dragon was way easier! hehe
I was terrible at miniature golf. I can honestly say this story about the game
gave me more pleasure than all my attempts. The painting is precious; the story
a joy.
Aww thanks, Sarah! 😃💕So thrilled you enjoyed this! Quite a different visual subject matter for me. Glad you liked it!
Another charming story, another charming painting. That dragon is almost believable.
hehe! Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕The dragon came easy… drawing a human is always a challenge for me! 😉
The same contractors must have built the miniature golf course that I went too as a kid because I remember that dragon. The only one we have around here now is a black-light house of horrors style. I’ve never been in and while I suspect I wouldn’t be bad at the kind I remember, I don’t think I’d do well in black light. I have trouble just walking in black light, lol.
It sounds rather cool and creepy all at once! lol 😉 I think I’d definitely have to give that one a try!
Growing up in the tourist Mecca that is Door County, Wisconsin means that I was a mini golf player from way back. Unlike you, I was not very good at it, but we had fun anyway. I was kind of a smart mouth, so that helped make it fun. The one we went to was at a park that had a very scary haunted house. Now that was fun!
Oh wow! I wish there was a haunted house as well… that would have been really cool! 🙂 Yeah, I don’t think skill was really the fun of the game in the end at all! That’s what made it so cool!
Superb painting..True..doing something daily does improve are work and especially if it is painting…Enjoyed reading about your high school days…I have played mini golf only once in a theme park…but never thought there is a day for it !!! I think we all learnt a lot because of “Days to celebrate” theme for this month’s doodlewash…How do you decide about what theme to pick for each month ?
Thanks so much, Anita! 😃💕 Glad you enjoying these days! As for the themes… they’re sometimes seasonal, depending on the month, but mostly chosen on a whim. hehe
Love the painting of Little Charlie taking a shot! I loved the sport as a child, and my kids did, too.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Glad your family still enjoys a bit of mini golf!
awesome doodlewash Charlie!
Thanks so much, Jodi!! 😃💕 So happy you liked it!