(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)September 8, 2021

Many of us can remember spending summer days playing a round of mini golf with family and friends, rolling the ball through spinning windmills and ricocheting shots off a side bank for an elusive hole-in-one. For most of us, it was a great way to engage in some friendly competition and have fun. For Ramapo alumnus David Biggy, however, the competition is real and with big stakes for the winner.

Biggy, who earned a B.A. in Communications in 1995 from the School of Contemporary Arts, is a finalist on ABC-TV’s wildly popular reality competition show “Holey Moley” which combines mini golf set in an obstacle course. The show, filmed in California, features competitors from all over the country vying each week for a gold putter and green plaid jacket (a take-off on the green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament). Those winners then compete in the season finale for the grand prize of $250,000.

The 2021 Season 3 finale is scheduled for September 23 when Biggy will have a shot at the big money.

What is your profession?

I have been in the journalism field for 26 years and am currently a staff writer with The SandPaper, which covers Long Beach Island and the mainland towns of Southern Ocean County. I mainly cover schools in Stafford Township as well as some municipal news for Stafford and do most of our sports coverage, in addition to other general features and stories when necessary. I also have a series in the summer called “Can You Beat Biggy?” [Folks try to best Biggy at a local mini golf course in Long Beach Island, N.J.]

How long have you been a mini golf fan?

Over the course of the past 40 years, I’ve played at least 75 mini golf courses in New Jersey. Some don’t exist anymore. Many locations have two courses, so the number is a lot larger than most would think exist in the Garden State. Along the Shore, mini golf locations are in abundance, but there are a bunch more spread throughout the state. As for a favorite, I don’t have one. Every mini golf course has a uniqueness and specific flavor about it. I always try to enjoy the course for what it is, and I simply enjoy the game.
How did you get to be a contestant on “Holey Moley”?

There’s a casting process for the show. I auditioned for a spot in Season 3 and went through several interviews with casting producers. The process started in November 2020 and I was told of my acceptance on the show in mid-February of this year. I also was fortunate to receive the endorsement of several friends from O-Street Mini Golf – Aaron Kaminski and Joe DiPrima, who were on the first two seasons of Holey Moley. We have a league in which we play at courses in the Ocean City (N.J.) area during the summer. They were kind enough to hype me when casting producers had sent them requests for referrals.

“Holey Moley” goes way beyond your typical nine-hole mini golf course. How did you prepare?

Being a mini golfer, preparing for the game itself wasn’t too difficult. I play a lot and have a good understanding of what it takes to succeed on a mini golf course. The “Holey Moley” holes are massive in size and scope. I believed I had an advantage over the standard golfer because all I do is putt in mini golf, as opposed to the person who golfs and uses a variety of clubs and has to utilize them for varying distances and conditions, Mini golf really is a different game than regulation golf. Otherwise, most of my preparation centered on being in good physical condition for the obstacles of “Holey Moley.”

You wore goggles for the match. Why?

In Season2, a contestant played hole and smashed into the pole on the obstacle, bouncing some four or five feet before going into the water. He couldn’t see it because he had to remove his glasses. [For most obstacles on the show, contestants are not permitted to wear glasses because it’s a hazard if you get hit in the face.] As soon as I saw what happened, I said I was not going to be the guy who doesn’t see the pole until he hits it. I want to, at least, have a chance to complete it. My vision without glasses is horrendous, so I thought to get some form of prescription goggles, both as a protective measure and so I could see whatever I needed to see when doing the obstacles. Of course, with swimmer’s goggles, I had the added benefit of being able to see in case I dropped into the water hazard (they really came in handy for that). Several of the producers thought it was a genius move, actually. I suspect my intent to wear the goggles made a difference in being selected for the show. Thankfully, my investment (the goggles cost more than $300) didn’t go to waste – I’ve been using them in the pool all summer and they’re great!
Are you going back to California for the final? And what do you think about your chances of winning the big prize?

I don’t have to go back to California for the finale, because all the filming for the entire season was done in March when I was there. The finale round already has been played. We’re just waiting for the air date on Sept. 16. As for my chances of winning the quarter-million … they’re as good as any of the other nine finalists. That much I can say.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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