Gator Golf

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Gator Golf is a children's miniature golfing toy from the American game company Milton Bradley. It was released in 1994. In the game, children take turns putting into the mouth of a motorized plastic gator figure, which then flings the ball off its tail and spins around, creating a new challenge for the next player. Gator Golf's commercial tag line was "Gator Golf - what could be greater than playing a game of golf with a gator?"

[edit] History

Gator Golf was designed by toymaker Robert B. Fuhrer, who had also developed the 1990 game Crocodile Dentist. Fuhrer submitted his idea for Gator Golf (then known as Crocodile Golf) to Milton Bradley in November 1992. 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.[1] The game debuted at the 1994 American International Toy Fair,[2] and became one of the most popular children's toys of the 1994 Christmas season.[3][4][5]

In 1999, Ladies' Home Journal named Gator Golf one of the top ten toys available for under $20.[6] W. Michael Kelley recommends the game as a classroom activity in his 2003 book Rookie Teaching for Dummies.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Drew Fetherston. "Playing With Toys Is Serious Work: Robert B. Fuhrer's life revolves around games". Newsday. December 5, 1994. C03.
  2. ^ Nancy Piccin. "Local companies strut stuff at Toy Fair - Milton Bradley plays up mystery". Sunday Republican. February 20, 1994. D1.
  3. ^ Devita Starr. "Dashing through the aisles - Parents' search for Power Rangers, other desirable toys is almost over". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 22, 1994. K5.
  4. ^ "Toy with these ideas". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 27, 1994. K1.
  5. ^ Phil Vettel. "Mysery and mania lead off games for kids". Chicago Tribune. November 25, 1994. 4.
  6. ^ Sarah Smith. "Ten Toys Under $20". Ladies' Home Journal. December 1, 1999. 98.
  7. ^ W. Michael Kelley. Rookie Teaching for Dummies. For Dummies, 2003. 158-9.
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