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For many of us, mini-golf is a recreational activity played on circus- or dinosaur-themed courses during restless summer afternoons on childhood vacations. Any hole-in-ones — sunk with fluorescent-colored balls — are accidents of fate to be marveled at afterward over ice cream and arcade games. But for pros like Matt McCaslin, who played his first round in kindergarten with his older brothers in his Memphis, Tennessee, neighborhood, miniature golf is much more: It’s a full-fledged competitive sport, complete with practice sessions, tournaments and cash purses worth thousands of dollars. And the courses are more than carnival spectacles. “People imagine that the tournaments must be played with windmills and clowns and all of that, but our greens are actually similar to traditional golf courses, with undulations, rocks, tropical plants, palm trees and sand traps, says Bob Detwiler, President of the United States ProMiniGolf Association (USPMGA), whose Hawaiian Rumble course in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, hosts the sport’s Master’s Tournament, which he established in the 1990s. “We’re like the Augusta of mini-golf. No matter how much mini golf you've played, it’s still important to practice, says McCaslin, who offers up these tips for everyday mini-golfers: Know the course. “Before a big tournament, usually I’ll take a day or two to go to that course and practice—about eight hours a day,” says McCaslin. Learn exactly where you need to bank a shot. Whether it's an aluminum rail or a type of brick, you learn through practice where to bank the shot to get the ball to respond the way you want. Watch your speed. One of the most important parts of putting is speed. This holds true on hard and easy holes. On a challenging hole it's imperative to have the estimated speed correct so if you miss you have an easy second putt. You can turn an easy hole into a harrowing situation if you over or under hit it. And then, it is show time. Once the competition begins, explains McCaslin, you have to put all the components together — getting the right speed and hitting the ball exactly where you want — to be successful. And maybe, with practice and skill, you’ll win the championship – or at least a round of nachos at the snack bar after the game. READ MORE...http://www.coca-colacompany.com