Words by Mr. Tee / Tom Loftus
Growing up watching 80s game shows on TV during sick days, it was exciting to root for the people or “characters” trying to win the big prize. The best part was seeing the big release of energy and emotion in victory. I could only dream what it would be like to feel that moment. Never did I imagine that I would have an opportunity to reach those heights while playing the game I love on the biggest stage possible with a cast that included Steph Curry and William Shatner. Pinch me, this can’t be real.
Back in April, Robin (aka The Pink Putter) and I flew out to LA to film for ABC’s new mini golf competition show, Holey Moley. In the midst of juggling multiple jobs, new mini golf course projects, wedding/honeymoon planning, and other creative endeavors, we would be putting on camera to win big prizes. Following months of anticipation and mystery, the reality of it all sunk in. The two of us would play individually in head-to-head matchups on the wildest course we’ve ever seen. When I first landed on the set, to say I was a kid in a candy store was an understatement. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The best mini golf we had previously encountered contained an imagination and sense of joy that would invite one on a journey with the ball through fantastical spaces. For the first time, we were challenged to move our bodies alongside the ball through 25-foot tall windmills, steep inclines, water hazards, and more.
Immediately, we got to know a bunch of the other contestants. There were endless new connections made with a colorful and fun cast of characters. After years of email and social media exchanges, we finally got to meet fellow mini golf nerd/documentarian, Pat Sheridan of The Putting Penguin. He introduced us to fellow east coast mini golf world pros, Robin Ventura and Randy Rice. The five of us hung out at the pool, grabbed food, and chatted about our experiences playing a course that was like nothing else we had ever seen.
And then all of our runs on Holey Moley came to a crashing halt.
Robin Ventura, Robin Schwartzman and I suffered defeat in the freezing cold water of Tee’d Off while Randy was bested by the big wave on Surf or Turf and Pat was taken down by the paparazzi on The Distractor. After endless nights of dodging windmills, falling on our faces, and pressure-filled putts, our stories on set came to an end. Five new friends from across the US were now left with an extra day while the winners moved on to the finals at Mt. Holey Moley.
Our sleep schedules were shot and the hangover was brutal. In the haze of it all, we all instinctively knew we had to do something to recover the joy that suddenly felt lost. To the average person, mini golf might seem like the wrong medicine given the sense of loss was connected to our putting misses. But this is a group of people who’ve played several hundred courses across the globe. Sleep be damned!
The deep exhaustion swiftly shifted into goofy energy and good clean fun across the greater Los Angeles area. Putting across Beverly Blvd into gutters. Balancing on one foot and hitting with the opposite hand. Connecting up with Robin Ventura’s first-round putting partner and face plant pro, Evan Michael, at a hidden course. While the champions were being mic’d up and fitted for green plaid jackets, the five of us won the day. The joy we shared and the friendships we forged through this experience will live on with us forever.
I’ve already shared many words on my experience and yet I still can’t fully encapsulate the full experience and especially the deep friendships forged with these spectacular people. What follows is some of the visual documentation of the day at Castle Park, Hole 19 and Busby’s East (full reviews of all coming soon). Can’t wait to have more moments like this with this exceptional group of humans. You’ll notice we even sported bright orange “Team Randy” shirts that he originally made for audience members to wear during filming. Putt When Ready!
