Golf365 plays mini-golf

Last updated: 11th November 2009

It's November, we're in Manchester, it is 6 °C, it is pouring with rain and we're about to play mini-golf - have we gone mad?

Perhaps the bad weather reminded us of those childhood holidays on grey seafront promenades, when families would be dragged to the putting greens and mini-golf courses to indulge the young Dave Tindall, Matt Cooper and Mark Kendall (the Golf365 three-ball for the day).

Whatever it was, Playgolf Manchester was our venue and we were about to tee off on their Championship Miniature Golf course - nine mini versions of the world's greatest holes.

The Playgolf website says: "This is 21st century crazy golf - you won't find any windmills or pirate ships on our course! Our theme is pure golf and provides the ultimate high-quality putting experience."

Bold claims, indeed, and as we headed out to the first tee, the question was if reality (well, the reality of a miniature golf version of heaven) would live up to the boasts. Here's how we, and the course, fared ...

1st hole, par four - inspired by the 10th at The Belfry

A tricky start but, Seve-like Kendall makes a bold bid for the green and makes it. He then holes his five-footer for eagle. Tindall and Cooper take the safe option which actually proves rather a delicate operation, but both make par.

2nd hole, par three - inspired by the 12th at Royal Birkdale

The toughest drive on the course, needing to be hit up a steep slope and threaded through a tiny entrance between two bunkers (actually two raised obstructions). Miss the gap and disaster ensues, as we all discover on either the first or second nine. Indeed Cooper needs four goes at climbing the slope on his way to a double bogey five at the first time of asking.

3rd hole, par four - inspired by the 18th at Carnoustie

We're getting into this now and stand on the tee, laughing to ourselves as we recognise the challenge ahead of us. We need to hit the first putt hard enough to leap two water hazards, but take care to remain short of the water in front of the green. No-one breaks par in either round. Tough hole but no-one does a Van de Velde.

4th hole, par four - inspired by the 17th at St Andrew's

More laughter because we love the mini-Road Hole. The genuine 17th calls for a fade from the tee followed by a draw to the green and the slopes of the mini-golf green allow you to replicate that challenge. There is also a magnificent recreation of the road and the wall behind the green - top work! Tindall and Kendall are moved by this homage and rack up the birdies.

5th hole, par five - inspired by the 13th at Augusta

As with the previous hole the slopes ape the shots required to find the green. This is a seriously tricky hole and none of us crack the enigma of how to leave a tap-in for eagle. After playing it a second time we all peer back down the "fairway", wondering what angles need to be found from the tee to secure the eagle. "This could become addictive," ponders Kendall, speaking for all of us.

6th hole, par three - inspired by the 16th at Augusta

Wow! We love this hole: you genuinely play the first shot looking to catch the slope that TV viewers the world over know so well. "It's even got the Sunday flag," coos Tindall, who promptly finds the water. Cooper adopts a less than subtle approach, firing one at the flag and trusting the rough to catch the ball.

7th hole, par four - inspired by the 18th at The Belfry

A tricky drive - as with the real thing, it is easy to find water. Or play safe and leave a long second to the three tiered putting surface (or, in this case, last bit of putting surface). In the second round, Cooper thinks of Christy O'Connor Jr and his 2-iron but goes one better and finds the bottom of the cup for an eagle. A little Mickelson-style fist pump follows - he's five-under par for his second round and is a little bit excited. The course record of 23 is out of reach but he's going low.

8th hole, par five - inspired by the 18th at Torrey Pines

In the first round Tindall's score needs a boost so he goes for broke: he hits the perfect angle, avoids the water and gives himself a ten foot albatross putt. It trickles past the hole and, US Open venue-style, wanders six feet past but he completes the eagle. In the second round Cooper, has to negotiate the step in the green with his eagle attempt but finds the bottom of the cup to move to seven-under. No fist pump this time - just a game face.

9th hole, par three - inspired by the 17th at Sawgrass

The tee shot flummoxed us all in the first round - anything bold finds the water so our efforts were therefore timid. In the second round Kendall and Cooper play for the bottom level from the tee. Kendall holes out for birdie but, having been given the line, Cooper slides his effort wide.

Final scores

Matt Cooper: 33-28=61 -9

Mark Kendall: 35-32=67 -3

Dave Tindall: 39-36=75 +5 (scroll to bottom of page for excuse)

Manchester rain? Manchester gloom? Who cares? When we completed the first nine we looked at one another, eager for someone to say what we were all thinking.

Dave spat it out: "Please dad, can we have another go?"

So we raced round for a second time as the rain got worse but our enjoyment never ceased.

"I can't wait to bring Joe here," Dave said, referring to his little boy. He could just as easily have been referring to the three little boys in all of us.

But the Playgolf miniature course is actually more than just a good laugh - the borrows are subtle and the putting surface is fast. It is a genuinely enjoyable and serious test of your putting skills - great for experienced golfers to hone their stroke and a brilliant introduction to the game for kids.

As we wandered off the course at the end of our 18 holes, soaking wet but with big smiles on our faces, Craig, the manager at Playgolf, looked down at us from the warmth of the shop, shaking his head.

"Hard core," he muttered. "You guys are hard core."

Only because the course deserved it.

* Dave says: "Can I just point out that I was using a borrowed putter whereas my playing partners were taking it so seriously they brought their own from home. Geeks."

For more information go to the Playgolf Manchester website