Express & Star

Remembering Mini Golf, the PC putting challenge that put other golf games to shame

Oh, hello memories.

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The Open, hosted this year at Royal Birkdale in Southport, is steeped in history – but then, golfing computer games have a rich recent history of their own.

The computer game Mini Golf took the world by storm at the turn of the millennium, so we thought we’d dust off the virtual putter, polish a few virtual golf balls, and take the classic course for a spin once more.

Select your character

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Hole 1: Easy starter

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Note the empty benches – tickets didn’t exactly fly out the door.

Hole 5: Safety first

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

A classic head-scratcher in a game which often tempts with more than one option, Ange plays it safe rather than risk the narrow puddle-threatened alley, and escapes with par.

Hole 7: Now we’re talking

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

It’s possible to clip the conveyor belt off the first shot and take the hole-in-one, but Angela fails to judge the shot correctly.

She leaves herself with a more than satisfactory putt for birdie, which she makes to go -4, because she has nerves of steel.

Hole 8: Conveyor belt chaos

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Another hole-in-one here is possible via the deft shot Angela has opted for, but she’s overcooked it slightly, and must once again settle for a birdie. The crowd murmurs to itself.

Hole 11: A hole lot of options

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Angela racks her brain, considers everything she has learned until now, weighs up the importance of the situation, takes a deep breath, and putts.

She chooses wisely, and takes another shot off her card to go -7. Is there any stopping her?

Hole 17: Ramp it up

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Rolling the ball up to the ramp, she plays the angles, buys a raffle ticket and wins. That’s another birdie for our Ange who moves to -8.

Hole 18: Can Angela finish strong?

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)

Angela opts for the fan route, botches her second shot and ends up going to the clubhouse off the back of a bogey. Don’t approach her at the bar, she’ll not be happy with the way that round ended.

Can you better Ange’s score?

Retro computer game: Mini Golf
(www.miniclip.com)
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