Can’t Wait for Golf Season? Downtown Marquette’s Twisted Tea Off Can Help

In the Upper Peninsula, spring doesn’t always come in a straight line. For every 50 degree March day, there could be a blistering snow squall right around the corner. Even when the snow finally melts, there’s still a lengthy “mud season” during which it’s not advisable to play hard on grassy surfaces – including golf courses, which often aren’t navigable until May.

Bayside Beverage, the Cincinnati-based producer of wildly popular Twisted Tea, is teaming up with the Marquette Downtown Development Authority to change that. On April 24, downtown Marquette will host the inaugural Twisted Tea Off, an indoor “putt-putt” golf tournament that welcomes players of all skill levels.

Downtown Marquette and Twisted Tea: A Match Made in Golf Heaven

Also known as the Downtown Spring Open, the Twisted Tea Off is an “indoor miniature golf event” that will hit at least 10 bars and restaurants, each of which will host one hole of golf, in downtown Marquette and the Village (the shopping corridor along Third Street). In exchange for the $25-per-team-of-four entry fee, all participants get a token for one free drink at the Ore Dock Brewing Company and food specials from Ron’s Taco Shop.

The event, which is scheduled to last for four hours, will culminate with an awards ceremony at the Blue Lounge on Washington Street in downtown Marquette. According to the event’s website, there will be prizes for the following categories:

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place by score
• Last place/worst score (bad golfers welcome!)
• Best dressed and/or most “spirited” attire (dress creatively!)
• Loudest/largest cheering section (so bring your friends!)

Participating Establishments

According to Samantha Collins of the DDA, Twisted Tea Off has lined up 10 venues:

• Vango’s Pizza and Cocktail Lounge
• Ore Dock Brewing Company
• Ron’s Taco Shop
• Breakers Roadhouse
• Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill
• Flanigan’s Bar
• The Landmark Inn
• The Blue Lounge
• The Wild Rover
• The Dog House Pub

Additional sponsors include Double Trouble DJs and Checker Transport, which is providing free shuttle transportation from downtown Marquette to the northern end of Third Street.

All for a Good Cause

The Downtown Spring Open isn’t all fun, games and prizes. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Janzen House, a local facility – based right in downtown Marquette, in the building that once housed the historic Janzen Hotel – that “provides transitional housing or shelter for homeless people and in cooperation with other agencies to help residents find employment and permanent housing,” according to Collins. The center has 27 full rooms that residents can rent at below-market, and often subsidized, rates. It has an additional five beds that are available for night-by-night rental, and also provides food assistance for those who qualify.

Twisted Tea Off: The Details

Think you have what it takes to participate in the Twisted Tea Off? Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information, then head to the DDA’s website to complete your registration. The Downtown Spring Open/Twisted Tea Off has space for about 30 participating teams, but spots are filling up fast! Sign-up closes on April 18.

On the day of the event, check-in (location TBD) happens at 5:30 p.m. Awards are presented at 9:30 p.m., after four hours of (hopefully) quality putt-putting. The entry fee is $25 per team, or $6.25 per person, which is a steal when you factor in all the potential prizes and goodies. (Not to mention great food, drinks, golf, and camaraderie!)

Hope to see you there!