This year, we decided to host a small, indoor mini-golf (AKA putt putt golf) course at work for National Library Week! Our program ran from 4-5:30 and we had people register for 30 minute tee time blocks at 4 pm, 4:30 pm, or 5:00 pm. Next time we will try 15 or 20 minute blocks to spread everyone out a little better.
Adult size golf clubs were located by the teen department for their mini-golf after hours event previously. I believe most of them were thrift store finds. We borrowed those clubs from the storage area. We also had a some small plastic toddler size clubs which we used for decorations for last year's sports-themed summer reading program. I bought 2 more sets for this program as well. The sets each came with plastic "holes" which I used masking tape to secure to the library's carpet. We were short a few of these, so I substituted plastic reusable drinking cups on a few holes.
Some of the materials I used to build holes: pool noodles, cardboard blocks, construction cones, stuffed zebra, cushioned blocks for the tunnel. A co-worker made speed bumps out of foam core board. We used pipe insulation, more pool noodles, and poles we already had for hole borders. The hole flags are made out of craft foam, chopsticks, and styrofoam containers. We plan to re-use them for similar programs in the future.
I found a scorecard online and cropped it for my purposes. I only had enough prep time (about 2 hours) to make 6 holes but I had originally hoped for 9. Instead, I allowed kids to repeat 3 holes for a total of 9 holes. The library was open while I was prepping so I started with the last three holes, in our separated program room. As the time grew nearer to the program, I completed the first three holes in the nonfiction stacks nearest the program room doors.
When families arrived, they checked in at a table in the program room, picked out a club, ball, scorecard and golf pencil and then proceeded to hole 1. If a number of people arrived at the same time, I had them start at a later hole and circle back.
We all had a great time and I would love to do this program again! Here are some pictures:
The circle is a shape
