58 shots for 18 holes

Oops, my first duff shot. I should have said: a visit to the world’s oldest standardised minigolf course. In Ascona, I’m welcomed by site operator Alfred Graf. Normally, the minigolf season doesn’t kick off until Palm Sunday. But Alfred is willing to make an exception for us and starts freeing the 18 lanes from the remnants of Petra. The winter storm that swept over Ticino during the night has left its mark.

Leaf blower in hand, Alfred Graf explains what standardised means in concrete terms: the lanes of the course in Ascona are all 12 metres long, 1.25 metres wide and made of one hundred per cent concrete. As early as the 1920s, dwarfed versions of golf courses with permanently installed lanes were constructed in Great Britain and the US. Meanwhile, there are many minigolf courses in Switzerland. Some feature shorter lanes, others are made of asbestos or felt. But this one here’s a true original – since 1954.

Who invented it?

It was Swiss landscape gardener Paul Bongni who invented it. The course was opened according to his plans on 19 March 1954. Since then, this has been the venue for national and international championships or just a bit of family fun. Alfred Graf looks at me with his striking blue eyes and asks: «Shall we?» Yes, we shall. I want to know what the course record is. «23 shots,» he replies and explains that this is the exception. «Over six rounds, the average record is about 29 shots per round. That’s about 1.6 shots per lane.»

«All pro players use similar clubs,» Alfred adds. Apart from their length, there are no big differences.» What about the balls? They’re not just nice and colourful, he tells me, but greatly differ in terms of bounce. Depending on the temperature and an aggressive or defensive playing style, harder or softer models are used. Although this gives you more tactical possibilities, it also adds to the complexity of the game. After all, a player needs to know how a ball will react under different conditions.

Theory and practice

Alfred Graf shows me the basic technique of minigolf. Shoulders forward, swing and follow through in one straight line. And what’s really important: don’t follow the ball with your eyes too soon. Once you’ve got the technique down, the ball will make its way to the hole by itself.

After playing a few lanes, a family of four appears at the entrance. The mother asks if the course is open. «Why aren’t you guys skiing?» Alfred replies. The weather’s to blame, they say. Alfred’s quick-witted. And generous. Although the course is officially closed, he lets the family in. For free. Four beaming faces start swinging their clubs a few lanes behind us.

Speaking of which. My putting is pretty strong at first. I master the first four lanes in just nine shots. Alfred Graf needs twelve. He says he’s a little rusty and out of practice but catches up in the next four lanes. By the time we reach the eighth hole, we’re on par. Shoulders forward, swing and no following the ball with my eyes. The formula seems to be working.

From meatman to minigolfer

Alfred Graf is a butcher by trade and originally from Zurich. I’m curious to know how he acquired a minigolf course in Ticino? He smiles. «When I was young, I spent some time in Davos for business. That’s where I met my wife Adriana, who’s a Ticinese. Her father acquired the course from Paul Bongni right after it was opened. He ran it until 1979. At the time, my wife and I had a butcher's shop in Weesen on Lake Walen. She got really homesick and so we decided to try our luck with the minigolf course in Ascona.» Since then, around 15,000 visitors per year hit colourful balls under Canadian oaks, palms and plane trees. Some of them do so with remarkable success. Alfred’s daughter Miranda even became the sport’s first official world champion in 1991.

Meanwhile, her dad’s mercilessly overtaken me on the scorecard. Two shots are all it generally takes him. On the plus side, I manage a Zwass. A what? This German portmanteau, consisting of the word Ass (ace) and Zweiter (second), is minigolfing lingo to describe an ace on the second go. A kind of second-attempt hole-in-one. This gives me the boost I needed for the last bit.

The third generation is ready

Before the 18th and final hole, I ask Alfred Graf about the future. After all, he’s pushing 80. «My son works in the construction sector in Germany. As soon as my nephew takes over his business, my son will be heading to Switzerland to take over here. It’s all been arranged.» After 65 years, the minigolf tradition in Ascona continues to thrive.

The last lane has brought players to their knees and snatched many a sure victory from the hands of champions. This makes us a bit tense, and so we chit-chat for a while longer. For example, about former ski legends, such as Peter Lüscher or Franz Heinzer, who once graced the minigolf course with their presence. Or about lane number seven that features a tee shot – just like «big» golf does. It’s where you have to get the ball up in the air and land it on the «green». Teeth have been knocked out of mouths because of it. And finally, there’s an element of pride in Alfred Graf’s voice as he tells me about that time a young lady passionately flirted with him – ravished by his steel-blue eyes.

Alfred seems distracted on lane 18. Maybe it’s all the memories. In any case, he needs the maximum of seven shots to sink the ball. «You could catch up with an ace,» he comments on his performance. OK then. I complete the round at the miniature golf course in Ascona with an ace on the last hole. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to win. Alfred wins with five shots. I consider mine an honourable defeat.

«Are you peckish?» Alfred Graf asks photographer Thomas and me. I take a look at my watch. It’s lunchtime. Yes, a spot of food would be nice. The trained butcher gets behind the barbecue and cooks three fantastic veal bratwursts to perfection. In the meantime, the family of four have finished the course and say goodbye. Happy faces all around.