While I ran my lifetime losing streak to forever at Natick’s Miniature Golf on the Village Green this past weekend, I didn’t let my flubbed putts get in the way of a fun family outing.

My wife, the winner with a low score of 44, doesn’t want to hear that miniature golf is hard for tall people.

We hit the course on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and while there were a couple dozen people there, everyone stayed socially distant. The operation has a detailed cleaning protocol in place to ensure players have clean clubs and golf balls.

Despite the sun, some of the greens were a bit soggy, but that made for good strategy and excuses. It didn’t bother Deborah one bit, as she nailed a key hole-in-one with her bright pink ball that assured her the victory over myself and our two boys, who have played “real golf” a total of about twice.

The course always brings back fond memories, including of kids’ birthday parties (often there or at the now defunct Fairway Bowling). This is where I first recall hearing Natick referred to as the “Place of Hills.”

While the course is in some ways a throwback, the Colonial-themed Village Green hasn’t stood still. The owners took advantage of having to open later than usual due to COVID-19-related business rules, by gussying up the place. New carpets have been installed, statues have been repainted, and a few have been replaced: Two Native Americans are gone. Ben Franklin and the Statue of Liberty are in.

“The center flag pole is new this year and 10 feet taller than the old one it replaced,” says Village Green’s Mark Daley. “With the arcade (Fun and Games in Framingham) closed at the moment, we have taken the extra time to keep repainting statues and making other improvements at the golf course.”

Miniature Golf on the Village Green on Rte. 9 west is open 10am-10pm daily. It costs $6 for kids 12 and under, $8 for 13+, and $4 replays for all. And of course, you win a free round if you sink a hole-in-one on #18.