People enjoy playing golf at the new Skyline Mini-Golf course at the Woodbridge Community Center during its grand opening. LAUREN CASSELBERRY It was two years ago that Thomas Mitch, now 11 years old, posed a simple question to Mayor John E. McCormac.
“Why can’t Woodbridge have a minigolf course?” Tommy asked.
His father, John Mitch, the township’s municipal clerk, said their family had gone on vacation to Cape Cod, Mass., and his son had played a lot of golf, jumped around on the trampolines, and hit baseballs in the batting cages.
“He just wondered why he couldn’t do these things inWoodbridge,” he said.
The rest is basically history.
On April 9, township officials officially opened Skyline Mini-Golf, an 18-hole course at the Woodbridge Community Center, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. A bridge that is built within the golf course is named after the younger Mitch, called “Tommy’s Bridge.”
Tommy said he was very surprised to learn that they named one of the bridges in the course after him. He said that when he mentioned his idea to the mayor, it was just a thought.
“I did not think he would actually build one,” he said.
McCormac said he liked Tommy’s idea because “it is a moneymaker and it costs little to run it.”
The golf course is located behind the community center, 600 Main St., which has a view of the New York City skyline in the background. The course is part of TheArenas atWoodbridge, which also includes an iceskating and roller-skating arena, an arcade and prize center, and the full-serviceArenas café, restaurant and catering center.
The mini-golf course was constructed and built by Harris Miniature Golf, of Wildwood. McCormac said the township went out to bid for the project, which cost about $450,000. McCormac said the land behind the Community Center is owned by the township already. Over the past two years, they have been working on getting permits for the course, and once they finally got approval, the course was built over several months. After the ribbon cutting on Monday, it was time to tee off with a friendly, but competitive, game of golf. First up was a game between the mayor and Tommy with council President Gregg Ficarra tagging along.
It was determined that the person who lost would have to wear their least favorite professional baseball team shirt. It turns out that McCormac is a big New York Yankees fan and Tommy is a big New York Mets fan.
During the match, McCormac and Tommy cheered each other to miss the hole. The mayor told Tommy that he hasn’t played golf since 1994.
At the 13th hole, McCormac had a hole in one, but after that the mayor admitted that he choked.
After 18 holes, which had obstacles such as the heavy winds on April 9, the waterfalls, rocks and more, McCormac beat Tommy by a mere three strokes, 49 to 46.
For the mayor’s win, Tommy has to wear an Alex Rodriguez T-shirt, the Yankees’ third basemen, on his last day at Avenel Street School No. 4 & 5.
“I was hoping to do a Bubba Watson (who is the 2012 Masters winner), but that was not the case today,” said Tommy with a smile. “My favorite hole would have to be the one you had to hit the ball across the water.”
The Skyline Mini-Golf course is available for birthday parties, group outings, corporate events, private parties, Scout events, and church groups.
Adult tickets are $7, and tickets for children 12 and under and seniors 62 and over with identification are $5. Children 12 and under must have a parent present.
The golf course is open Monday through Sunday. Public time is from noon to 10 p.m. and group time can range from 10 a.m. to noon. Hours are subject to change.
For more information about the Skyline Mini-Golf course visit www.thearenasatwoodbridge.com or call 732-596-4103. Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected]