Miniature Golf industry celebrates 100th birthday with Give Kids the World fundraiser
Whether you call it miniature golf or putt-putt, Orlando’s favorite outdoor sport is turning 100 years old, and the mini-golf industry is celebrating its centennial by supporting Give Kids the World with a nationwide fundraising event.
From now until September 30, miniature golf owners, operators, and industry suppliers, along with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), are inviting all those who love miniature golf to help celebrate at participating miniature golf courses around the country.
Give Kids The World Village is a 79-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Within the resort is Marc’s Dino Putt, a handicapped-accessible miniature golf course that was named for one of the children who stayed at the Village in the 1990s and who was an advocate for the charity until he passed away.
The public will play miniature golf and contribute to Give Kids The World Village through the purchase of a special commemorative miniature golf ball featuring a GKTW and 100 Year Anniversary logo created for the campaign. Donations can also be made via GKTW’s fundraising page for this event.
For a list of participating courses, please visit https://www.facebook.com/US-Miniature-Golf-100-Year-Anniversary-885592831531464/ and go to the “notes” section of the community page.
In addition, miniature golf course owners and operators are being invited to participate via purchase of a “Promotion in a Box Tool Kit”. Please visit https://secure2.convio.net/gktw/site/Donation2;jsessionid=46F476B0D95B2023957E58B7ECB1BD29.app203a?df_id=2801&2801.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T to purchase your tool kit.
The tool kit will provide promotional tools and ideas, along with a starter set of commemorative golf balls to sell to customers. Some of the proceeds from the sale of the kits and the commemorative golf balls will help pay for renovations to the miniature golf course at the resort.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to have some fun and help children with life-threatening illnesses,” said Pamela Landwirth, president and CEO of Give Kids The World Village. “We are so grateful to our friends at IAAPA and those in the miniature golf industry for their commitment to our mission.”
“Participating designers and builders will perform the renovation service at cost or less to make the course more fun, interactive and user friendly for the children who stay at the resort,” according to Arne Lundmark and Bob Lahey, industry spokesmen.
A Facebook page has been set up and we encourage all to share favorite miniature golf stories, historical photos and other human interest items. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/US-Miniature-Golf-100-Year-Anniversary-885592831531464/ to get involved.
