Last Thursday, for once, the men’s gymnastics group wasn’t filled with the smell of the gym, the groans of push-ups or the counting of fitness exercises. Instead, 15 cheerful members set off for the mini-golf course, where clubs, small balls and plenty of camaraderie awaited them.

It soon became clear that mini-golf is far more than just a leisurely pastime. With plenty of ambition, a keen sense of touch and, at times, almost philosophical patience, the players attempted to guide their balls over hills, through tubes and elegantly past obstacles to the finish. Yet the little balls occasionally took on a life of their own and did not always follow the path their owners had intended.

Of course, it quickly became clear why this was the case: it was down to the devious obstacles, the unpredictable edges and the treacherous course conditions – but never down to the players’ own skill. Accordingly, missed opportunities were laughed off, lucky shots marvelled at, and every successful stroke acknowledged with a satisfied smile.

At the end of the entertaining evening, Andreas Hürlimann was crowned the winner. With a steady hand and enviable feel for the ball, he conquered the courses most successfully. Whilst his moments of brilliance on the putting green rarely make the headlines, he impressively demonstrated on the mini-golf course that he is a true master of precision play. kh