Mini Golf in the Library! 2018

Mini Golf Chair Sandy Ward (a volunteer with Friends of the Library) worked closely this year with Library staff member Nancy Kocsmiersky of the Development Office. All proceeds in 2018 will go directly to the Library, rather than via the Friends of the Library.

Planning begins for the 18th hole... What will the 18th Hole Sponsor (Conklin Office Furniture) create for this space THIS year? (Last year's "Photo Island" was very popular.)

In February, Steph Labrie, the Marketing coordinator for Conklin Office Furniture, came to the Teen Room to measure the space and begin thinking about plans for this year's 18th hole. We hope it is as much fun as last year's! See 2017 photos.

Holyoke History Room Archivist Eileen Crosby prepared a relevant exhibit about golfing in Holyoke.

This notice appeared in the Holyoke Plus section of The Republican 3/28/18. (Although Nancy contacted many other papers, this is the only notice that I saw in the weeks leading up to the events.)

Bilingual flyers ready to be distributed to the 5,300 students in Holyoke Public Schools. Volunteer Ellie Dunn counted out the number needed for each school and delivered the flyers (while Sandy Ward prepared another batch of flyers –without the HPS disclaimer– for pre-schools and charter schools)

Signs posted in the library lobby in April. (The small bottom sign advertises a "practice hole," which arrived in advance.)

One week ahead, we put out these lawn signs (which do not specify year or date, so can be re-used).

For 2018, we posted the map of the 18-hole course on a wall in the Community Room (instead of reproducing it on every scorecard). Thus the scorecards could become more convenient to carry: folded to pocket size. Logos of each of the 22 sponsors were included on the scorecard.

In spite of the Friday afternoon snowfall, wild animals and equipment for building the golf course arrived on schedule, ready for set-up beginning at 4pm (when the library closes).

Setting up the stairway "holes" is particularly challenging!

Conklin Office Furniture chose a WILD theme for the 18th hole.

Stephanie Labrie, right, of Conklin, also designed a "go wild" SnapChat filter.

Three giraffes (and a herd of zebras) were added by Russ Bolton of Library Mini Golf LLC.

Sarah Page and Elizabeth DuMont-McCaffrey

Friday evening Cocktail Party. Names and logos of Event Sponsors were posted on the wall, as well as on a sign in the lobby.

These seven items in the "Lucky Ticket" Auction were open for bidding both Friday evening and Saturday. Eighteen other items were auctioned Friday night. See separate album for photos of happy winners.

Hole #7 was sponsored by Too Sketchy Dudes Comics.

WayFinders sponsored Hole #8, well positioned to display the plan for their "Library Commons" project, which will rehab buildings visible out the window here (see next photo) and construct a new corner building.

Hole #8, with view of the buildings that WayFinders now owns and will bring back into usable housing as part of their "Library Commons" development.

Saturday morning... Min Golf for all ages. Friends President Karlene Shea at the Ticket Table. Library Board member George Mettey ready to play.

Our first TEAM ! They signed up weeks in advance and came dressed in matching shirts and caps for Foster MA "Every Parent Makes a Difference." Foster MA is a program of Massachusetts Dept of Children and Families (DCF). See https://www.mass.gov/foster-care

Valley Opportunity Council (V.O.C.) sponsored this hole.

Display by Valley Opportunity Council (V.O.C.)

Team # 2 at the V.O.C. hole.

Family play begins...

Barbara Raines and Karlene Shea selling tickets Saturday morning for Mini Golf and for these "Lucky Ticket" auction items.

Friends volunteers Bernice Bowler and Peg McCarthy at the equipment table