''Gator Golf'' is a children's

miniature golf Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, mini-putt, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of its parent game. The aim of the game is to score the lowest number of points. It is played ...

ing game. It was released in 1994 by the American game company

Milton Bradley Milton Bradley (November 8, 1836 – May 30, 1911) was an American business magnate, game pioneer and publisher, credited by many with launching the board game industry, with his eponymous enterprise, which was purchased by Hasbro in 1984, and ...

. In the game, children take turns

putting The golf swing is the action by which players hit the ball in the sport of golf. The golf swing is a complex motion involving the whole body; the technicalities of the swing are known as golf stroke mechanics. There are differing opinions on what ...

into the mouth of a motorized plastic alligator figure, which then flings the ball off its tail and spins around, creating a new challenge for the next player. ''Gator Golfs commercial tag line was "''Gator Golf'' - what could be greater than playing a game of golf with a gator?" It was released again in 2008, then in 2009 under the "Elefun and Friends" banner. It was then re-released in 2019 by Goliath Games. The game was then re-released again in 2020 by Toy City in the UK and its name was "Gator Golfers".

History

''Gator Golf'' was invented by toymaker Robert B. Fuhrer who had also developed the 1990 game ''

Crocodile Dentist ''Crocodile Dentist'' is a game made for young children, first published by Milton Bradley in 1990. A smaller travel version of the game was released in 1993 and is currently being produced by Winning Moves. The game was conceived by Robert B. F ...

''. Fuhrer submitted his idea for ''Gator Golf'' (then known as ''Crocodile Dentist Golf'') to Milton Bradley in November 1992. Phil Grant and Mike Meyers of Milton Bradley played a key role in developing the game. Milton Bradley asked him to consider using a different animal in the game, such as a beaver or a dragon, but Fuhrer's original idea remained mostly intact. The game debuted at the 1994 American International Toy Fair, and became one of the most popular children's toys of the 1994 Christmas season.Phil Vettel. "Mystery and mania lead off games for kids". ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

''. November 25, 1994. 4. The game was released again in 2008, without the spins (possibly to keep the game at a lower price than the original) and changing the color from green to orange. However, in 2012, the color was turned back to green (though the design of the gator from the 2008 version remained). The game was released once again in 2019 by Goliath Games. The gator was given a complete redesign, with birds on its back to keep the score.

External links

Gator Golf page at Goliath Games website

References

1990s toys Milton Bradley Company games Games and sports introduced in 1994 {{Toy-stub