Taking Dr. Seuss to the streets (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone).
Under the tent, the sloping Noe Valley sidewalks added an unexpected challenge to "One Book, Two Books..." (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Homage to "One Fish, Two Fish..." (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
The cat himself (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
"Tabloid Tee," from Shari Weiser, Lee and Spencer Uniacke, started with a Mad-Libs style, create-your-own-tabloid-journalism story (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone).
Stephan Scherzer and daughter Annabelle pose in front of "Tabloid Tee"
Mannequin Sam invites minigolfers to check out "Recess," which includes dummies of all the kids in his fifth grade class. A month after the event, Sam's dummy is still in place on the banister.
Work in progress, two weeks before Crawfox Minigolf: The kids in Sam's class, rendered as mannequins, for the golf hole that would become "Recess," par 8. At this point, not all of them are finished, or even dressed.
Mannequin Ethan practices Taekwondo, while Tessa poses for a mug shot. The fifth graders chose their dummies' activities, supplied the clothes, and assisted in construction.
Mannequin Lily stares at a floating waffle, while mannequin Abby looks on. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone).
"Recess" ramping. The hole occupied three rooms on two floors. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Mannequin Antonio whomps Luis with a ribber chicken, as part of "Recess" ... (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
... while mannequin Ben laughs at goings-on (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Real kids flank mannequin Amara in "Recess" (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Yes, that's a hole in the wall. In this case, it's leading to the downstairs continuation of "Recess" (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone).
The mannequin of Lucy has a bright idea (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Mannequin Nina sings, Aimee dances, and Naomi (as Anne Boleyn) holds her head in her hand.
Mannequins Kobi and Shane play the part of twins, as they relax during "Recess"
In Molly's room,"Recess" mannequins (clockwise from left) Abby, Eric (hanging upside down in window), Lucy, Molly (the only non-fifth grader mannequin in the batch) and Lily surround the ramp leading downstairs. (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Mannequin Nina belts it out. (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
"Recess" golfers putt the ball into a tube upstairs, which enters the wall and leads to the continuation of the hole downstairs. Here, Niza and Crystal form the top of a tube kid pyramid, and the ball comes out of Jake's mouth.
From mannequin Jake's mouth, onto the green (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Widgets, a Rube Goldberg-style hole from John Loose, who won Best Designer in 1994 with "MIDI Golf"
After being putted up the covered ramp, the descending ball plays a series of chimes, cymbals, and other musical devices in "Widgets"
"I Cannot Tell a Lie," by Catherine Theilen and Sam Fox started with a zipline on the deck, which carried the golf ball, via a small basket to a cherry tree.
Part two of "I Cannot Tell a Lie" winds down the tree and ends in a hole just below ground level. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Robert Kanes insisted he was "just a consultant" on the building of "Toxic Assets." (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Bud Peen, a four-time Crawfox Minigolf winning designer (in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004) shows off "Toxic Assets," a joint project with Robert Kanes (also a four-time winner), Jim Fisher, and Steve Fox. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
"Toxic Assets" promised investment success; ultimately, it just took your golf ball and returned bupkes. In some cases, after your ball disappeared, the golfer was presented with a replacement ball the size of a marble. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Bernie Bucks are "Good Wherever Fools Rush In." Putt into the pyramid, and you get to take one home. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Bernie Madoff invites investors to make money in "Toxic Assets." The only safe investments, as it turns out, are the savings account and "under your mattress," which flank the pyramid. (Photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
The tubes extending from the pyramid and from the back of the structure promise big returns, but they're strictly for show. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
The vault where the Bernie Bucks are kept. It's a sham, of course. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Your assets, protected by a tarp, naturally. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Investors prepare to play Toxic Assets. "Financial Advisor" and hole co-creator Jim Fisher explains their investment opportunities. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Crowds forming around Noe Bowl. Alley proprietors (and hole designers) Harry McCracken and Marie Domingo also served drinks. Here Harry sets up the pins.
"Noe Bowl" had a distinct 50's vibe. Check out the pictures lining the alley.
Preparing to put the ball in play at "Noe Valley Bowl." (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Robert Cardin and Mary Wang (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
The Scherzer family
Laurie Kanes clutches a Bernie Buck as the party ends. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Mingling by the front nine (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Evelyn and Martin Kanes with Jim Fisher
Sam's fifth grade classmates compare scores (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Bruce Stuart, co-winner of the "Best Dressed" award
Stace Felder, co-winner of the "Best Dressed" award
Admission was free. But many golfers stocked up on Bernie Bucks (distributed at "Toxic Assets") just in case. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Anne McDonald and Frank Thorsberg show off their golf garb
Waiting to get into Minigolf Heaven
One Last Kiss, by Max Barr. A farewell, accompanied by thrown shoes, to George W. Bush (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
W gets the Warhol treatment. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
The traditional minigolf cake. Golfer and flags not edible. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Brown sugar sand traps, coconut frosting fairways, tiny peppermint golf balls (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Even the golf balls are edible (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Mark Sullivan (left) admires Funk-o-Tron, a creation of Darren Gladstone (middle) and Robert Strohmeyer (right)
Lasers, records, disks, action figures, and a smoke machine made multimedia extravaganza "Funk-o-Tron" a kid favorite (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone).
When the putted ball breaks the plane of a laser array arranged along the back of the hole, it triggers a variety of tunes. (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Lining up a shot at "Funk-o-Tron" (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
"Funk-o-Tron" laser array. Note the laser beams emanating from the silver arm in the center of the picture, while the smoke machine chugs away (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Even the donation box has a minigolf theme. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Trophies for best hole and best dressed. Much coveted, very cheap. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
The rules have grown less restrictive over the years. In 2004 we got rid of "no open flame." "No explosions indoors" went by the wayside in the late 90's. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Jon Jacobi and hole designer Melissa Riofrio put the finishing touches on "Mega Golf" (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Co-hosts Leslie and Steve tee up for "Mega Golf." In background, wrapping around the cherry tree, is the continuation of the zipline hole, "I Cannot Tell a Lie." (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Stace Felder tees up the giant ball for son Jack in "Mega Golf." (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Jack takes his swing... (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
...and after a sweet stroke, the golfers watch the ball in flight.... (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
... and use body English to do a Carlton Fisk (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Jon Jacoby watches as the ball heads toward the giant cup (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Steve, Leslie, and Sam examine the trophy.
Steve, with Sam and Leslie standing by, announces the grand prize winner. And it's...
... "Minigolf Heaven," where (almost) everyone gets a hole in one.
The winning designers, from left: Steve Fox, Sharon Rudnick, Henry Kaiser, and Kirk Steers. Not present, Annette Goodfriend. (photo courtesy of Robert Kanes)
Sharon Rudnick holds up three fingers, signifying her three wins: 1999's "Sixteen Candles," "Cheney's Dream" from 2006, and now "Minigolf Heaven." Kirk Steers is also a three-time winner (2006 and 1996's "The Morgue," with two-time winner Annette Goodfriend). Henry and Steve have two wins to their credit as well (2006 and 2009)
Julia Dawson and Leslie Crawford pose before the crowds arrive. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
Leslie and Steve celebrate their last ever minigolf tournament, 16 years after the inaugural event. The first minigolf fete, a small get-together with about 25 people, was on February 14, 1993 (see inset). (Large photo courtesy of Robert Kanes).
Crawfox Minigolf 2009 was originally scheduled for May 2, but rain forced us to postpone. Two weeks later, on May 17, the event came off without a hitch. Above: Moses in plus fours, from the golf hole "Minigolf Heaven." (Go to http://crawfox.com to see photos of the previous 11 minigolf extravaganzas.)
The calm before the storm (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
"Minigolf Heaven" by Kirk Steers, Henry Kaiser, Sharon Rudnick, Annette Goodfriend, and Steve Fox
Angels, Buddha, Shiva, and Moses, all decked out in minigolf garb, preside over Minigolf Heaven.
Past the pearly gates and inside "Minigolf Heaven." Minigolfers were instructed to "putt toward the light" (photo courtesy of Jeremy Stone)
"One Book, Two Books, Red Book, Blue Book" by the East Bay Children's Book Project (photo courtesy of Anca Mosoiu)
Photo courtesy of Anca Mosoiu. See Anca photostream at www.flickr.com/photos/ancawonka
