Handmade Golf Game

I used to have more time on my hands. Those were also the days when we had fewer resources so I was also looking for cheap entertainment ideas for my children.

Here's a handmade game of miniature golf that has been popular with each of the children regardless of age. The older kids like to set up the cans as tunnels and holes to test their skill, the younger ones whack the ball around on the carpet but anyone can put this together in an hour or two with the right materials.

You'll need dowls--one for each child--sold in the craft section of Walmart. I think the handles I made were 3/4 inch but decide how thick you want them for yourself, you don't want them breaking or too small for tiny hands. Buy one thick dowl, the thickest they have, for the foot of the club.

Save some different sized aluminum cans, wash them out and cover them with construction paper or contact paper. On some of the cans I cut both the lid and the bottom off to make a tunnel, on some I left the bottom on to make a cup.

Cut the fattest dowl into four or five inch segments. If you don't have a sweet grandfather around with the wood working tools who will do the job for you, you could even use a hand saw--they sell those too at Walmart.

Drill a 3/4 inch hole in the top of the fat dowl big enough to allow you to insert the smaller-sized dowl and glue it securely with wood glue.

Paint your new putter and if you have made enough for teams you might paint some of the putters a different color for the sake of team identification. Seal the putters with a clear coating of varathane or Mod Podge or whatever you have on hand and once dry you're ready to go.

Don't forget the golf balls.

Check in with Rocks in My Dryer every Wednesday for other good tips.

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