While it’s not the millions of dollars won by winning a national golf championship, four-thousand dollars is still a lot to those who have a passion for mini golf. 

Started in the 1950’s, professional mini golf is open to the public, and world wide. You can declare yourself a pro and join the championships simply by signing up. However, players of the sport practice day in and day out on their putting skills. Olivia Prokopova, a competitor since 2013 puts in 10 hours of practice a day, six days a week. Prokopova became a professional player when she was only seven years old, and since then she has won six junior championships, and was awarded with a masters title.

A usual tournament can take anywhere from one to three hours. While the amount of holes and courses vary by tournament, you can expect most golfers to receive many ‘hole in ones.’

Championships are held for those committed to trying their luck on the course. Just like professional golf, mini golfers can travel to other countries and compete against other players for a couple thousand dollars. 

Many of the players, like Prokopova, have made an impact on the people and communities around them. While they spend lots of time on the sport, many people have followed in their footsteps, joining these championships in order to have a go at the sport. While these people may not come in first, many love the experience.