(
Throughout the year we'll hear from eight bloggers as they share about their family's time in the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® and how it inspires them to explore these sports back at home.
This post was written by Children's Museum Blog Ambassador Mary Graham. Follow her posts on her blog, Trusty Chucks, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
I didn’t grow up in a golf family.
The only reason I might have seen someone playing golf was on Sunday afternoons when my dad fell asleep on the couch and a golf tournament came on TV after a baseball game.
I know nothing about golf.
What if I’m a golf prodigy and NO ONE KNOWS because my dad decided his kids didn’t need to know anything about golf when they were growing up?
If only the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® had existed in the eighties—who knows what kind of fame and fortune I’d have if I’d been able to learn about golf. I have no doubt playing a few rounds at the museum would have launched my career.
Recently, I took my younger daughter and niece to play some mini golf at the sports experience. We grabbed our putters and worked our way through both courses.
The girls had a blast playing their way through the course. My brother and I loved the information boards that featured model course details at the beginning of every hole.
“We’re in Florida!” my brother yelled as we teed off.
We practiced our swings and talked about geography and distant lands.
“Now we’re visiting China!” I exclaimed as we tried to make our way around sand pits and water traps.
The girls learned how to hold a putter correctly and why swinging with all your might is maybe not the best idea. We talked through the golf etiquette of letting people play through who were faster than us, and discussed what a "par" is.
The girls learned about golf and beautiful golf courses from around the world as we stood in the middle of downtown Indianapolis on a warm summer day.
Here’s some shocking information: my daughter and niece will probably not go pro soon. And, surprisingly, neither will I. But we had a blast learning about a sport we weren’t very familiar with, trying out a new skill, and enjoying each other’s company.
What makes the sports experience so wonderful is that kids can try new things without a huge sign-up fee at the beginning of the season. You can find an orange-shirted employee who can answer questions, give you expert advice, and explain the rules of the game or sport—so even if you have no idea how golf or hockey or baseball works, they are available to help. You’re not just paying admission to play a few rounds of golf, but to enjoy the whole sports experience with the entire museum for one price.
What’s not so great is the discovery that I am not a golf prodigy. I’m still trying to get my head around this, but hey, maybe your kids are. Why don’t you head to the sports experience at The Children’s Museum and find out for yourself?
