Sunday, May 20, 2007 1:22 AM CDT
Area miniature golf courses up to par for plenty of friends, families
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
nwest@jg-tc.com
The artificial turf that once covered the Kingdome is almost hallowed ground for some Seattle Seahawks diehards.
After all, it provided the footing for Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent to make his mark.
And it was the surface on which Charleston resident Whit Lauwers shot for par and won the first of two championship rounds, leading ultimately to his victory last August in the 16-man tournament organized by his friend, Mattoon native Nick Price.
“I’m the reigning ‘putt-putt’ champion,” Lauwers boasted, his putter extended like a katana in the hands of a triumphant samurai warrior.
Those like him who seek eternal glory by conquering Vinnie & Al’s Pla-Mor Golf in Mattoon are actually playing on Astroturf from the Kingdome, the now-demolished stadium for Washington’s professional football and baseball teams.
Vinnie Walk, the “Vinnie” of Vinnie and Al’s, said he secured the discarded grassy material to use on his miniature golf course after he was unable to get leftover turf from the University of Illinois.
But despite sharing a common playing surface, football and miniature golf obviously aren’t even in the same ballpark, so to speak. After all, bone-crunching tackles and long passing plays are generally discouraged at local miniature golf courses.
Rather, according to officials, miniature golf is an activity for everybody, regardless of one’s athletic prowess or competitive attitude. It is a form of recreation especially suitable for families, groups of friends, couples and other intergenerational cadres, said local golf course owners and participants alike.
Lauwers and Price rarely see each other now, but when the two old friends do get together, it’s often at Vinnie & Al’s, where Price used to work.
“We both like (miniature) golf, and it’s cheaper than the real thing,” said Lauwers, who owns and operates Lauwers Lawn Maintenance.
Price, who just graduated from Illinois State University in Bloomington, added, “It’s relaxing.”
Built at Peterson Park in the 1970s, Mattoon’s miniature golf course was purchased in 2000 by Walk, a teacher at Mattoon High School, and retired Charleston Middle School teacher Al Ennis (who later sold his share to Walk).
Walk said he remembers playing at the course as a kindergartner.
“For the kids, it’s (still) popular,” he said. “I think it’s actually more popular now (for high school and college students). They come out, golf against each other, have their little side bets.
“And it’s one activity that parents and grandparents can do together. They can talk to each other — it’s a good connection for parents and their kids.”
The east side of Coles County now boasts two miniature golf courses, as the new Lincoln Springs Resort course opened recently and complements the city of Charleston’s Putt-N-Swing facility near the Rotary Pool.
“Miniature golf has come of age,” said David Kirsch, chief operations officer at Lincoln Springs Resort east of Charleston.
In fact, the newest Coles County course will host a series of tournaments in which top players will earn spots in the Harris Cup National Miniature Golf Tournament.
“Miniature golf is not golf in miniature,” said Kirsch. “Miniature golf has a lot in common with regulation golf. Putting surfaces on new courses are designed to produce the same putting challenges found on regulation size greens — only on smaller greens.”
South of Sullivan, Jerry and Carol Liston built Sullivan Prairie Miniature Golf in 2000 after retiring from their jobs in the Chicago area and moving south. Jerry Liston said he “very rarely” plays traditional golf, but when he does, he believes his miniature golf expertise influences his short game.
Despite the “metamorphosis” of miniature golf and its increasing relevance to full-size golf, Kirsch said it “has not lost any of its appeal or fun. In fact the number of players is increasing every year.
“Miniature golf is an inexpensive recreation everyone loves to play. The putting challenges created for the older players do not alter the fun that children have. Kids will whoop and holler and have an unforgettable time.”
Kirsch noted that the first nine holes at Lincoln Springs Resort are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so everyone can get into the fun.
Jones said Putt-N-Swing is particularly popular with families, dating couples and groups of friends. “It’s something everybody can do,” he said. “You can make it whatever you want to make it.”
Liston said, “It’s a family activity for all ages. We have seniors come out, and everybody in between.”
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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 Nathaniel West (JG/T-C)
When they have a chance to get together, friends Nick Price, left, and Whit Lauwers often do so at Vinnie & Al's Play-Mor Golf in Mattoon.
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I used to putt wrote on May 20, 2007 7:01 AM: