Mini Golf for the Visually Impaired

I created this adaptive putt putt so that individuals who are visually impaired can participate in mini golf. Golf is an activity that can reduce stress and is often used to strengthen familial bonds, but it is not usually catered to those who are visually impaired. This adaptive version provides a 3-D printed model of the hole so that person can feel the layout of course, including where the obstacles are and where the hole is. The model is made to scale to the course. The course itself is made out of turf, cardboard carpentry, and PVC pipe. The custom ball was 3D printed so that is has a slot that a key tracker can be placed in. The key tracker has a remote that when the corresponding button is pressed, the tracker will make a noise. This allows the player to be able to locate the ball on the course using echolocation.

• 1 inch PVC Pipe
• 1.5 inch PVC Pipe
• 2 3-way perpendicular PVC pipe connectors
• PVC cutter
• 2 90-degree 3-way PVC connectors
• Tri-wall cardboard
• Wooden nails
• Hot and Wood Glue
• Ruler
• Jigsaw
• Serrated knife
• Screw Driver
• Water activated packing tape
• Sponge brush
• Water
• Turf Carpet
• Plastic drinking cup
• Scissors
• Key Tracker with remote
• Tinker-cad account
• 3D printer

• Aquire a turf carpet.
• Sold at Lowe's, Home Depot, and Amazon.com
• The width of the carpet will determine the width of the ramp

**this step can be modified to fit client, the lower the ramp, the easier it will be to play.

1. Measure width of turf carpet and mark onto tri-wall. Length should be about 35 inches.
2. Cut tri-wall
3. Measure out the 4 triangles that will support the ramp.
4. This is done by drawing a straight line the length of the ramp, and a perpendicular line from the top of the straight line about 12 inches tall. Connect the two lines to make a triangle.
5. Cut out the triangles.
6. This step can also be done by creating 2 rectangles that are the length of the ramp by 12 inches, and then cutting them in half diagonally to make 4 triangles.
7. Nail and glue ramp together.
8. Line up the 4 triangles equidistant apart from each other.
9. Hot glue the triangles on.
10. Using wooden dowels, nail at least 4 nails along the length of the support.
11. This is done by using a screwdriver to make a starter hole for the nail
12. Fill the hole with wood glue
13. Hammer in the dowel.
14. Cut a hole for the cup
15. After centering the plastic cup, use the rim side to trace a hole. (It should be about 6 inched from the top of the ramp)
16. Cut out the hole using a serrated knife.
17. Edge the ramp
18. Using water activated packing tape, a sponge, scissors, and water, cut pieces of tape to fit the edges of the ramp as pictured.
19. Once the pieces are the correct size, use the sponge to wet the tape and place it on the edges of the tri-wall.

1. To create the hole for the cup on the turf, trace the rim side of the cup on the back side of the turf, ensuring that it is centered and about 6 inches from the top.
2. Cut out the traced area.

1. Lay out the turf on top of the ramp, ensuring that the cut out holes align
2. Place the plastic cup through the holes as pictured.

1. There is creative freedom in this step, as the obstacles can be changed to users liking.
2. Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch PVC pipe to the length of the ramp, these will be the borders going up the ramp.
3. Cut 1 piece of 1 inch PVC pipe the width of the ramp, this will .be the top border of the ramp
4. Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch PVC pipe the height of the ramp, these will be the supports of the inclined ramp.
5. Cut 1 piece of 1.5 inch PVC pipe 12 inches (obstacle that lays straight across)
6. Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch PVC pipe to14 inches (obstacles that attach to the border)
7. Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch PVC to be 36 inches (long sides of the side borders
8. Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch PVC to be 17 inches (short side of the border)
9. The pipes from steps 7 and 8 should be flipped on opposite sides of the ramp so that one side has the 17in piece first and then the 36in piece, and the other side should have the larger piece first.
10. Assemble pieces of PVC using the connectors as shown above.

1. Using Tinker-cad, create 2 angled PVC connectors for the pieces of pipe leading up the ramp.
2. The angle of the connector should be about 20 degrees.
3. An example STL file is provided below.

1. Measure out of the lengths of the PVC and the obstacles. (Tinker-cad scale is 1mm, so to make the model to scale we are going to be using 1in=1mm)
2. Using Tinker-cad, create a to scale model of the course.
3. An example STL file is provided below.

1. Obtain a key tracker with a remote, the one used with this set is linked below.
2. 3D print a golf ball that has a gap in it the size of the tracker. An example is provided below
3. Place the tracker into the ball and place a piece of tape over the slot so that the tracker does not fall out.
4. Place another tracker tile in the hole of the course so that the player can hear where they are aiming.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0957K8SQH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1. To play, have the visually impaired person feel the model of the course so they can get and idea of the layout and hand them the remote so they can hear the sounds as needed.
2. Place the ball at the start, obtain a putter, and have fun!