When Rainey Statum got pulled over by the cops, he had a hard time explaining what he was doing so far from Houston.
“I said, ‘I’m going to Myrtle Beach to play mini golf. No, seriously, here’s my putter’”.
Rainey is one of the best mini golfers in America, but he’s but one competitor in one of the most grueling events in his sport. Every year, professional putters from around the world descend on Myrtle Beach for the US Pro Mini Golf Association’s Masters tournament, competing for cash prizes, bragging rights, and the elusive green windbreaker.
The whole thing — the tournament, and the USPMGA itself — is the brainchild of Bob Detwiler, a businessman who’s been pushing the Masters tournament for over 20 years. And he’s hoping that one day, his event will be in the Olympics.
VICE News dropped in on the latest tournament to see what it takes to be a professional putt-putter.
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