Storm clouds beckoned over Shawnee High School on Tuesday evening. But that didn’t stop a long line of students, families and other community members from waiting outside to experience this year’s STEM mini golf course.
Shawnee engineering students constructed a 10-hole mini golf course for the third straight year. The course opened to the public last night inside the school’s auditorium entrance due to rain.
Even though the course was moved inside, the turnout exceeded previous years, according to technology teacher Stefani Kirk. Thanks in part to a large turnout from Medford Brownie Troop №21266, a large line formed before the course’s 5:30 p.m. opening and remained for much of the night.
The STEM mini golf course isn’t any ordinary course. Each hole is unique, with winding curves, lights, water features and more.
Kirk said the mini golf project is one she believes to be original to Shawnee.
“A lot of our projects are born elsewhere,” she said. “This is one I was able to come up with all my own.”
While the holes are handmade, they were not constructed as part of a workshop class. All were designed by engineering students who went through a process to design them. The project is a year-long endeavor, with the students seeing each hole through from conception to the finished project.
“They do the sketches themselves,” Kirk said. “Every hole you see here has been modeled on the computer. This is totally on them.”
Use of computer modeling helped the student design working holes as if the golfers were at a permanent mini golf course.
The course has grown in popularity since it debuted. Through social media and word of mouth, residents from outside the Shawnee community learned about the course and arrived on Tuesday night to play a round of golf. Everyone from Shawnee students to families and couples came to the event.
The event has also been able to attract sponsors. Chick-Fil-A of Marlton provided sandwiches, chips and drinks for sale. Pleasant Valley Golf in Voorhees also chipped in, donating clubs and balls for the golfers.
In addition, each hole had a sponsor, which helped to cover some of the cost in constructing some of the holes.
“Every student had to get some sort of donation,” Kirk said.
The students were also able to offset the cost by using some recycled materials for their holes. Kirk said there were so many elaborate designs this year, she had to look at every possible way to keep the cost of the project at a reasonable level.
Not only is the course one of the most creative around, but it only costs $1 per person to play, which reimburses the students for their expenses on the project. Kirk added any leftover money made from the event will goes toward Shawnee’s Technology Association.
For Medford residents who weren’t able to be at the course’s opening night, there are still two more chances to play golf. The course will be open today and Thursday after school until 4 p.m.
