Miniature golf wins OK from adults as well as children
Elizabeth L. Piccirillo, Baltimore Sun

PMGA champ Tom Frederickson welcomes back springtime mini golf

(Excerpts from originally published April 1, 2004 )

Charlie Forbes needed a lot of practice to beat his wife at miniature golf, so he decided to get his own course. And after six years of owning Tee Time Family Golf on Joppa Road (Perry Hall, Maryland), he says he still can't win, but he's definitely gotten better. Professional Miniature Golf Association (PMGA) champion Tom Frederickson says he started playing the game to improve his putting in actual golf and has ultimately become a minigolf guru.

Both Forbes and Frederickson ventured into the world of miniature golf with separate agendas, but both agree on the game's appeal to many types of people.

"We have little kids as young as 3 years old picking up clubs to play," Forbes said, also mentioning a summer league whose members came from their retirement home. "It appeals to all ages."

While playing in minigolf tournaments, Frederickson says he comes across college kids looking for a little competition and some older guys who want to keep up their putting during the winter months.

"Miniature golf is a fun game," he said. "I am sure that most of us got a small taste of the fun of it when we were kids. It was a great way to get outdoors and have a little fun. I think it's safe to say that some of us have a hard time giving up that childhood connection."

Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, check out PMGA's miniature golf directory to some courses that are sure to get you into the swing of spring.