No Strokes of Luck in Pro Minigolf Tourney

 by Carl Glassman

There was no hushed gallery to applaud the great shots or gasp at the ones that just missed. And there certainly was no huge pot of prize money waiting at the end of the fourth and final round. But none of that seemed to matter to the five Swedish minigolfers who showed up on Pier 25 last month for Tribeca's first official pro tournament.

Carl-Johan Ryners, the minigolf champion of the world, narrowly misses his putt in the final round of the tournament played last month on Pier 25. Photo: Carl Glassman

"We're just here for fun," said Anders Ollson, who works part-time as a limo driver in Stockholm so that he can pursue the real passion of his life.

Carl-Johan Ryner said he wanted to see the Statue of Liberty and seemed as eager to explore the city as to win the tournament.

"It's hard to imagine you're in the middle of Manhattan playing minigolf," he said, looking slightly awestruck as he gazed at the Lower Manhattan skyline. "I'll play the last round and then be a tourist again."

Ryner is not just any professional minigolfer. He is the world champion, winning his title last year in Germany. This was the New York State Championship, which was expected to draw some 50 competitors when it was originally scheduled for the end of August. But the Republican convention was coming to town and demonstrators were expected to jam onto the pier.

Though the competition was modest in its number of golfers, it was impressive all the same. Invariably the Swedes knew just how to play the hills and contours of each hole, at times providing the impression that it was the cup's magnetic powers that helped make the shot. Stroked with jaw-dropping accuracy and speed, balls that seemed wildly off course would take sudden, backwards loops right around-and into-the hole.

"If we had 50 players at this event my guess is these guys would have been in the top five," said Gary Shiff, who officiated at the tournament. "They really are phenomenal players." (The following week Olsson won the national tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

The Tribeca win-and its $400 first prize-went to Hans Olofsson, who established a course record 25-with 11 aces-in the second round. Ryner came in second.

Olofsson declared the pier's 18 holes-short, hilly, and a bit threadbare by Swedish standards-to be a good challenge.

"The course looks worn but it didn't affect the game that much," Olofsson said as he waited to collect his trophy. "It was fun-and different."