I have a lot of dust on my golf clubs. I realized a long time ago that I was never going to be any good at the game. However, I always enjoyed miniature golf. It's something I miss on cold and snowy days like the ones we have been experiencing since Thanksgiving.

It’s time to rejoice!  Winter has become a little more tolerable for people like me. I've learned that Hazards Mini-Golf and Social Pub has opened in downtown Erie. Mini-Golf can now be played in this city all year 'round. Tony Arrigo and Tom McQueeney originally were going to open a simulated golf facility in the downtown but someone else beat them to it.

"So we started coming up with ideas. Mini-Golf, bowling, and different things,” recalls Tony. “We stuck with mini-golf. It paid off and we put our full foot forward on mini-golf and it's going pretty good."

"Anybody can mini-golf. Little kids to adults and grandparents. Anybody can play. We're happy with the decision,” adds Tom.

I’m making my first trip to Hazards. It's three in the afternoon and the place is bustling. Folks are drinking at the bar and at tables surrounded by big screen TVs. There are two large groups on the links., One on the front nine, the other on the back nine. They are whooping it up.  Who says the fun of miniature golf must only take place in the summer?

Tony's family operates the Beechwood Golf Course near I-90. He says Hazards is similar to the big golf course in that both hold tournaments and both host leagues.

"It's a different format style but leagues are leagues, tournaments are tournaments and we're able to run some good ones already,” he says.

Three leagues are underway. The configuration of the holes is changed from time to time to keep players from getting too comfortable with the set-up. The rules change from time to time also. During one week, right handed competitors must putt left handed and vise versa. During another week, putters are not allowed. Golfers must bring anything else to use as a putter such as an umbrella or a baseball bat.

Let it snow! Let it snow!..as long as we can still play mini-golf.

"It's scratching that itch for people,” says Tom. “We've been pleasantly surprised with how many people are excited about playing mini-golf."

Hazards is located on the second floor of the Bonnell Building at 419 State Street. There’s many tributes to Erie on and off the golf course including many salutes to Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero from the “Battle of Lake Erie” during the War of 1812.