Shooter McStrahota
Inspired by the NYT Magazine story about professional miniature golfers, some folks and I went out this past weekend and putted for money. We traveled to Arlington's Upton Hill Regional Park, out Wilson Boulevard just past Ballston, and played for $5 a person. It wasn't rich people's mini golf for money. I knew my putting skills. Bouncing the ball off a rock, over water and back onto the green got me a side dollar each from Tom and Jess, but it wasn't enough. I finished with a 58, last place, and handed my $5 to the winner, One-Armed Jeff.
With 3/4 of his left arm in a thick cast, an immobilzation far greater than shown in my photo simulation, Jeff shot a 42. He dropped 2's all over the 18 holes. I figured the cast helped steady Jeff's line, but it could have been anything. The late summer's breezes, the ailing competitor's fire, the red BMW's payments. Anne's boyfriend Dan got close at the end, but ultimately came up four shots short. According to the woman at the clubhouse/register, both Jeff and Dan's rounds put them among the best of those who had played in the course's summer tournaments.
Jeff said he would put his $20 winnings toward his medical bills. But he also said he would consider using the money to enter the course's big September tournament ($15 entrance fee), which sends its winner to the national mini golf championship, the Harris Cup.
August 9th, 2010 at 8:10 PM
[...] Here we are reading greens. Or being Hamburglars. Whatever. Who knows. One year Jeff played with a broken wrist and beat everyone. [...]