Looking back through our old posts, it became apparent that we never posted about the beginning of TORL’s annual mini golf tradition. Though there are now few still around who remember this far back, we do remember that Matt won (of course). Paul lost and was forced to eat some awful concoction that no one remembers at this point. We all blocked it from our memory.
And thus a TORL tradition was born!Â
Even the guy who made the suspicious treat was doubtful, but Paul was a good sport about it.
The day that the world has been waiting for finally came. Matt finally lost at mini golf!!
It seemed like any other game that would end with Matt winning. Turns out, halfway through he was already behind, but because he was keeping the score he didn’t mention it. The rest of us went on playing as if it was a mini golf competition like any other.
But then the final scores were tallied, and Matt lost!
Matt lost to both Ricky AND Jacob! A monumental day for everyone in the lab (except Matt).
Our favorite place with snow cones closed at some point between 2019 and 2022, so there was no inventive (translation: disgusting) flavor combination for him to eat. But they did have a stockade, and Matt did wind up in the gallows.
Sure, we would have rather him have to eat something gross, but we’ll take what we can get.
Thanks to the easing of COVID restrictions, we felt that it was time to return to the annual TORL Mini Golf Competition™! This was our fifth year of competition (technically spread over 7 years, but still). We all had one goal: bring down Matt!
Lewis watches on while Danielle plans her shot
Ricky plans his next shot while Steph chases her ball
Danielle managed to defy the laws of physics by having her ball stop right on the very top of the donut-shaped hill surrounding the hole.
We proposed that scores would be averaged across everyone with shared DNA. It seemed more than fair. Steph’s score would be averaged with… no one. Zack’s score would be averaged with… no one. Jacob and Lewis and Ricky and everyone else? Also averaged with no one. Matt’s score, however, would be averaged with his kids (who joined for the outing). Really, who can argue with that fairness? According to these new rules, Matt’s score was 57 which put him squarely in the middle of the pack.
One of Matt’s two handicaps
But, alas, by the old rules, Matt won again. We didn’t even take a picture this year because, really, why bother?
But in an exciting new twist, we had two trophies this year! It was decided that the second trophy would go to the most holes in one, which was won by Steph with a terribly impressive TWO holes in one. And, really, the Ewok is the better trophy anyway.
Score Cards + Ewok trophy!
Then we went out for Pizza. We figured it only made sense for the winner to treat everyone else– it’s the least he could do.
In a shocking turn of events, Matt won at mini golf once again, and made sure to rub in his 4-peat. You’re the best at mini golf, we get it, SHEESH. He was bequeathed the 2019 mini golf trophy, which he will lord over the rest of us for at least a few months.
In a new twist, we had a tie for last place – Paul and Zack get joint custody of the much-coveted losers trophy. Great job guys!
Matt adds to his trophy collection
They were clearly thrilled to be sharing last place
It was a beautiful North Carolina spring day. The sun was shining, it was a perfect 80 degrees, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. No one spoke, or even dared to breathe. It came down to this one stroke. If AJ could get a hole in one on the 18th hole (regarded by many experts to be the most difficult hole of the course), he would beat Matt and end his 2-year winning streak. He set up the ball. He planted his feet. He rocked back on his heels a bit. A bird chirped in the distance. AJ pulled back the putter and gently tapped the ball. It was good! The ball was going straight for the hole! But alas, the surface was not flat, as is the wont of mini golf courses the world over, and the ball quickly veered off course, rolling down the hill and, with it, the chance of unseating Matt. Everyone (other than Matt) groaned and swore to practice harder for next year.
Despite the very upsetting end to the day, we all had a great time at our annual mini golf competition. Matt won (again…) and AJ, as second place winner, got to pick the SnoBall flavors for Stephane C, the loser. Unfortunately for AJ, Stephanie didn’t find the orchid/spearmint flavor combination quite as gross as he had hoped.
Sleep with one eye open Matt. We’ll get you eventually!
On Friday we held the second annual TORL mini golf extravaganza. Matt was the winner (again) and was handsomely rewarded with a mini glow-in-the-dark Death Star trophy. The loser had to have a Sno Cone flavor chosen by the winner. Matt bequeathed this honor to the runner up mini-golfer, Paul, who made Jay (our gracious loser) have a combination of orchid, spearmint, with a hint of citric acid for tartness. Note that orchid is so bad, that it has been described as “eating potpourri” and is not even on the menu. Special request only. Luckily Jay was a good sport about it. Though he tried to finish out of stubborn pride, he eventually yielded to his protesting taste buds about half way through.
The winner’s circle (of one):
Jay going in for the first biteSmiling through the pain. What a sport!
