Mini golf to take over downtown Tiffin

TIFFIN — Downtown Tiffin will trade sidewalks for fairways next month during a community mini golf outing that transforms 18 local storefronts into a walkable course. Participants will move from business to business as each stop becomes a custom-designed putting hole, offering a blend of summer fun and local flavor. The idea came from Katina Steinmetz, owner of SSG Ink, who said she's been hoping to launch something like this for several years. "When I saw the Happy Gilmore sequel was coming to Netflix this summer, the timing just felt right," Steinmetz said. "It's fun, it's family-friendly, and it gets people downtown." The inspiration came from wanting to create an experience that felt both nostalgic and fresh — something that would bring people of all ages together in a different kind of setting, resulting in a one-day course featuring a lineup of participating stops, including coffee shops, art studios, boutiques, bars and florists. Coastal Swing Golf & Bar, one of the featured businesses, will bookend the course by hosting both the first hole and the final celebration. The '19th hole' after-party will include popcorn, movies and a random drawing for gift cards donated by each of the 18 locations. While the event is designed to appeal to casual players, it also nods to pop culture with a community costume contest. Attendees are encouraged to dress as Adam Sandler characters, with prizes for the best male, female, teen, child and pet costumes. Beyond the putters and prizes, the goal is to create an annual event that gives downtown visitors a new way to engage with the businesses around them. "It's not about golf, really. It's about giving people an excuse to explore downtown in a way they've never done before," she said. The Downtown Tiffin Mini Golf Outing is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, with tee-off beginning at 11 a.m. and play wrapping up at 4 p.m. It is open to all ages.