The Mini Golf Marathon: A Tradition Worth Keeping
Some traditions start small.
Years ago, my nephew and I started a simple Gulf Shores tradition: we would go play a couple rounds of mini golf together. Nothing too complicated. Just an uncle, a nephew, a putter, and a scorecard.
But like the best traditions, it grew.
Now that he is a young adult, we still keep it going. What started as a couple of courses has turned into a full-day mini golf marathon — breakfast, as many rounds as we can fit in, a little friendly competition, and, in recent years, even renting a fun vehicle to drive around in for the day.
It has become one of my favorite beach traditions.
Breakfast First
This year, we started the morning at Sunliner Diner, which felt like the perfect way to begin the day. Before the competition started, we had breakfast, talked through the plan, and got ready for a full day of mini golf.
The goal was simple: play as many rounds as possible.
Let the Games Begin
Our first stop was Beachside Mini Golf in Orange Beach because it opens at 9:00 a.m. From there, we headed to Bubba’s Seaside Mini Golf, then over to Adventure Island, where we played both outdoor courses and the glow-in-the-dark course.
That is when the day really started to feel like a marathon.
After Adventure Island, we went to Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf. We were only able to play one course this year because the other was under renovation, but it still made the list and kept the tradition moving.
Normally, we head farther north to play at Jurassic Golf, but this year we were running short on time, so we skipped it and made our way to Shrimpy’s Mini Golf, where we usually wrap up the day. We got two rounds in there, but then realized we had a little extra time before meeting family at Flora-Bama.
So, naturally, we squeezed in one more round back at Beachside Mini Golf.
By the end of the day, we had played eight rounds of mini golf.
The Scorecard Matters
Every year, we track two things: who won the most games and who had the lowest total strokes.
This year, we tied on games won.
But when the strokes were added up, Uncle Adam came out on top with the fewest strokes.
Of course, I am only mentioning that because it is an important historical record.
More Than Mini Golf
The funny thing is, the mini golf is only part of what makes the day special.
It is the breakfast before the first round.
The joking after a bad shot.
The lucky bounces.
The missed two-foot putts that somehow still get talked about later.
The driving from course to course.
The running scorecard.
The annual reminder that even as life changes, some traditions are worth protecting.
When he was younger, it was just a fun way to spend time together at the beach. Now, as he has grown into a young adult, it means even more to me that we still make time for it.
That is the thing about traditions. You do not always know when they are becoming important. Sometimes you just keep showing up, year after year, until you realize those simple days have become some of your favorite memories.
A Gulf Coast Tradition Worth Starting
If you are visiting Gulf Shores or Orange Beach with kids, teenagers, nieces, nephews, grandkids, or even grown family members, consider creating your own mini golf marathon.
You do not have to play eight rounds.
But you might want to.
Pick a few courses, keep score, make a breakfast stop, take pictures, and let the day become whatever it becomes. Maybe it turns into a one-time vacation memory. Or maybe, like ours, it becomes a tradition you look forward to every year.
Either way, it is a reminder that some of the best beach memories happen away from the water — with a putter in your hand, family by your side, and one more round squeezed in before dinner.
