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A contribution by Christopher Holler for the project “What’s going on there?!” by students at h_da
About mindset and the right swing – two-time German minigolf youth champion Levi Tritsch reveals in the Was-DA-los? portrait what drives him, how he got into the sport and why SG Arheilgen was the best choice for him.
It's a hot June day in Bensheim. On the town's mini-golf course, Levi Tritsch walks from hole to hole, practicing his swings. "The German Youth Championships are next month. I want to be well prepared for that. After that, we'll be playing in the Open category for the team title." The 16-year-old is not only passionate about the sport, but is also considered one of Germany's most promising young talents.
For the past two years, the two-time German Youth Championship winner (2022 and 2023) has been playing for SG Arheilgen (SGA). "I played most of my career for Bensheim. However, we narrowly missed promotion to the first Bundesliga two years ago. Continuing to play in the second division wasn't enough for me: playing in the Bundesliga and doing well has always been my goal," he explains his motivation for the move to Darmstadt. "The difference in skill level between the players is quite significant."
His time at SGA wasn't just the right step for his career. The average age in his social circle dropped drastically. "After two years, I feel much more comfortable at the club. Especially when my performance at tournaments is good, it's really comfortable." At the youth level, his successes in the squad – as the team is called in professional circles – mean he's treated somewhat differently. This also allows Levi to talk to people from other German states.
Levi Tritsch is a two-time German youth champion in minigolf. Source: Christopher Holler
From fun to national success
Levi started playing mini-golf at a very young age. "When I was four or five, we came here almost every day. Since I don't live far away and the playground was nearby, it just sort of happened." As a child, he simply enjoyed the activity. Eventually, club members approached him to suggest he join.
“I can’t even remember my first tournaments,” he says. As a child, he mainly participated for the fun of it, but now mini-golf is more of a creative hobby for him. “Back then, my mother used to write down my scores because I couldn’t manage it myself.”
He recalls the high attendance figures at tournaments in the past. "It's not even due to the pandemic. For some reason, tournaments aren't attracting as many outsiders as they did ten to fifteen years ago. We probably need to do a better job of promoting the sport on social media. Otherwise, we'll continue to be ridiculed."
A different ball for each lane
Unlike the casual golfers on the course, Levi has his own equipment: In addition to a club adapted to his tall stature, his bag contains a towel for cleaning the fairways and countless mini-golf balls: “There are over 2,000 to 3,000 different balls for the various fairways. Having to constantly come up with a different tactic is a big part of the fascination for me.”
A look at the various mini-golf balls in Levi's bag. Source: Christopher Holler
Creativity is of little use, however, without the ability to put ideas into practice. Levi, on the other hand, is quite skilled: he sinks one ball after another in a single shot. He often relies on the rebound off the rear metal outer ring. Such straight shots are unimaginable for most visitors to the course.
Having previously only played on concrete lanes, he points out the material of others: "The lanes are made of Eternit. We shouldn't stand on them." The difference lies in the construction: Eternit lanes are built smaller than concrete ones. Therefore, they don't offer enough space for a good teeing position.
Moving forward into the next round
Of course, Levi isn't infallible. When, exceptionally, the ball doesn't disappear into the hole on the first attempt, he explains how he deals with setbacks in tournaments: "I recommend everyone take a fresh look at each hole. That's what I try to do, at least. The main thing is that I enjoy the sport. But not everyone can just flip a switch and look forward to the next round."
He admits that he sometimes finds it difficult not to think about the outcome of a tournament. "This happens to inexperienced players just as much as to professionals in the Bundesliga who are fully aware of what's at stake."
Levi suffered his biggest defeat just last year at the German Championships, where his team finished only in fifth place. Even the team gold at the 2023 European Championships in Italy couldn't save him in the individual tournament.
In contrast, his greatest success was the team title at the 2022 World Championships. "That was my first World Championship in the national squad. Winning gold with the team wasn't my plan at all. Then I also finished fourth in the individual tournament. That really came out of nowhere."
A miniature golf ball with Levi's name printed on it. Source: Christopher Holler
Winners, but at what price?
He said his time in the Bundesliga was fantastic, but he also knew what it cost him: "In the first division, the distances to match days are much greater than in the lower leagues. As a result, I often neglect my schoolwork." He added that with the upcoming upper secondary school years, it would be particularly difficult to continue performing well in minigolf.
Although Levi plays at a high level in the Bundesliga, the sport remains more of a passion than a career path. "There's no money to be won at most tournaments. Instead, there are usually trophies and medals." Turning his hobby into a profession is practically impossible, since even most adult professionals have a regular job.
Nevertheless, Levi still sees a future with mini-golf. After all, he wants to keep sending those balls into the hole for as long as possible. Whether over loops, ramps, or rocky obstacles: he aims, swings, and hits the target with pinpoint accuracy. His ability to appear so calm at the same time is something few can match.
This article was created as part of the "Was da los" project – a student-run newsroom run by students of the Online Journalism program at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da). DA.news supports the project and publishes selected articles on its platform. Further information and articles can be found here and at: www.was-da-los.de
