Lilli Putt hole data + a look back at past Lilli Putt events

May 9, 2025·24 min·2 clips

Can Matt Rolstad achieve a rare third straight win at Lilliput, a feat not seen in years?

This episode previews an upcoming outdoor mini-golf tournament at Lilliput in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, hosted by Reed Nelson of the Putt Craft Podcast. Nelson analyzes player storylines and provides detailed historical data for the course. He also announces significant changes to the course's hole pars and a new format for a side contest. Matt Rolstad enters the event having won the last two consecutive tournaments, aiming for a third straight win—a feat last achieved by Sean Brown in late 2021 and early 2022. Cameron Heselius carries a streak of 39 consecutive events with at least one hole-in-one, having aced holes in his last three trips to Lilliput. The last event at Lilliput on June 25, 2024, was won by Tom Loftus with a score of 33 under par 99, a performance nominated for Tournament of the Year. In that event, Cameron Heselius took only four strokes on the par-5 16th hole with two double-eagles, while Loftus took seven strokes yet still won by one. The previous event on May 3, 2024, was won by Eric Acelius with a 32 under par 100, which included a course record 46 on one round. Seven holes at Lilliput are having their par ratings reduced by one stroke, moving fives to fours and fours to threes, which will retroactively alter historical statistics like double-eagles. Nelson argues double-eagles should be extremely rare, comparing them to albatrosses in real golf, which occur less than once in 160,000 attempts. The easiest hole at Lilliput, and second-easiest on the circuit, is hole 9 with an average score of 2.935, which is 1.1 strokes below its current par. Hole 16 has a double-eagle percentage of 6.9%, while hole 18 has the second-highest ace percentage on the course at 8.19%. Seven holes at Lilliput have never been aced, including holes 5, 11, 13, 15, 7, 3, and 16, though Nelson notes hole 16 has been aced in a warmup round. The side "bottle game" is being replaced by a "knockout round" where the top scorers advance hole-by-hole, with a jackpot starting at $40 that increases until someone wins it by making three consecutive aces. The tournament will use only twosomes and threesomes to ensure play finishes before the course closes at 8 p.m. The tone is analytical and enthusiastic, blending statistical deep dives with anticipatory commentary for an upcoming event. The style is conversational and data-driven, with the host speaking directly to listeners familiar with the players and course. Mini-golf statistics enthusiasts and regular followers of the Putt Craft competitive circuit would love this detailed pre-event analysis. Listeners unfamiliar with the specific players, past tournaments, or the podcast's internal statistics might find the episode too niche.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Putt Craft Podcast