M.C. Mini Masters
The M.C. Mini Masters is an amateur miniature golf tournament affiliated with the United States ProMiniGolf Association (USPMGA). Founded in 1997, the tournament has been held annually since. It has a format unique to miniature golf tournaments, whether professional or amateur, in that each round of the tournament is played on a different course. Despite this, the entire six-round event is completed in approximately thirteen hours from tee-off to completion, using six different courses in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois.
In 2005, the tournament hosted a professional division for the first time, but due to some turnover in the offices of the USPMGA, the Pro Division did not continue in 2006. The M.C. Mini Masters has made a commitment to remain strictly amateur in the future.
Tournament director Mick Cullen announced in March 2007 that Libertyville, the closing course of the Mini Masters for four of five years from 2002-2006, would have to be replaced because the course had been sold to a developer who planned to level it in August 2007 and use it for another purpose. The sale fell through and the course remains intact but closed. In April 2008, Cullen announced that Par-King in Lincolnshire, IL would be the closing course for the next installment of the tournament. The final two rounds in 2008 were played at the 36-hole format of Par-King, with round five taking place on the Black Course and the sixth and final round on the Red Course. The other course that has been eliminated from the lineup is Kristof's in Round Lake Beach, Illinois.
Changes continued in 2009 as Congo River in Kenosha, Wisconsin closed and was demolished so an automobile dealership could be built in its place. Congo River had hosted the opening round of the tournament every year since its inception. Their closing left Kenosha's Action Territory as the only course to be included in every installment of the M.C. Mini Masters. Replacing Congo River was Sisolak's West, as the course that had been shuttered since 2004 reopened under new ownership, but was only able to prepare one 18-hole course in time for the tournament. Tom Schweiss won the 2009 installment of the tournament to become only the second competitor to win back-to-back titles. Schweiss's three career titles are also second-most all-time, trailing only Michael Cullen's six.
The 2010 M.C. Mini Masters is scheduled for Saturday, June 26. The course lineup for the 13th edition of the event has not been determined, though the failure of Sisolak's Golfarama's east course to reopen before the tournament means that two rounds may be played at the same course for the first time in tournament history.
M.C. Mini Masters champions
- 1997: Michael Cullen
- 1998: Michael Cullen
- 1999: Michael Cullen
- 2000: Michael Cullen
- 2001: Matthew Cullen
- 2002: Mick Cullen
- 2003: Tom Schweiss
- 2004: Michael Cullen
- 2005 (Amateur Division): R.J. Dusak
- 2005 (Pro Division): Gary Shiff
- 2006: Michael Cullen
- 2007: Matthew Cullen
- 2008: Tom Schweiss
- 2009: Tom Schweiss
Currently used courses
- Action Territory (1997-present)
- Lighthouse (1997-2004, 2006-present)
- Sisolak's Golfarama (West Course 1997-2003, 2009-present; East Course 1997-2003)
- Par King (both the Black and Red Courses) (2008-present)
Previously used courses
- Ballybunion (2004-2005)
- Congo River (1997-2008)
- Kristof's (1997-2001, 2004-2007)
- Libertyville Sports Complex (2002-2007)
- Rocky's Fun House, formerly known as Monster Golf or People's Choice (2005-present)