I recently completed a list entitled “101 things to do ON the beach” and dedicated it “to my grandchildren.”

In the 17 summers we’ve owned our beach house in Moody Beach (which is the northern part and private part of Ogunquit Beach) I’ve never tried anything related to golf.  As I was creating my 101 things to do list, it occurred to me this would be a good addition under the category of mini golf.

Last week I went to Dick’s and bought three kid-size putters (real ones) and a box of Angry Bird golf balls – each one with a different character.

So when I heard you and your family were visiting us yesterday, I was ready to go.

You helped Ben and me build the first four holes… you weren’t feeling great, suffering from an ear ache which ended up being yet another ear infection.  Our 10 hole course was constructed in the hard sand of low tide (my favorite time at the beach).  It featured chutes, drops and obstacles.

As we were constructing one of the early holes together – on our hands and knees – Ben said in a very excited, happy voice, bursting the words at a rapid pace:

“I just love the beach.  It’s so much fun.  You always come up exciting new ideas for us to try.  I think you’re the best grandpa in the whole world…

 

“Do you think we can try all of the 101 ideas this summer? We’d have to come here a lot to do that!”

We had a blast with the miniature golf course on a very hot day… and others joined in. You and Ben and me played the first game, then later on your Dad tried out the course, then Camden came, then Uncle Tim.

My favorite of the 10 holes was the long, downward-sloping ramp we made by digging the tip of the shovel hard into the sand for 20-feet or so into a hole.  The golf ball sped down the chute and dropped right into the cup when we hit it perfectly.

I wonder which of the 101 ideas we’ll try next!