The Mini Golf Masters - Dinosaur Story for Kids

Jonathan and Redge return to the land of dinosaurs to compete in the Mini Golf Masters with their Maiasaura friend, Minh. If they can win the Quotatious Period’s biggest golf tournament, the grand prize means Minh can be the first dinosaur to go to space camp. They drive and putt through a wild prehistoric course full of giant frog obstacles, sneaky Pterosaurs, and a twisting Brontosaur’s tail. But when an erupting volcano shakes up their final shot, everything changes, and a happy surprise shows that the ending can be even better than you imagined.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/the-mini-golf-masters/         

DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales127colorfun 

GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep127freePDF 

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: As Minh and his friends work together during a high-stakes mini golf tournament, they learn to adapt, support one another, and stay resilient when things don’t go as planned. The story reinforces that effort, collaboration, and a positive mindset are more important than winning, while also showing that unexpected opportunities can arise even after disappointment.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about the dinosaurs in Once Upon A Time land, we think you’ll also enjoy episode 122, Maiasaura and the Moon: https://jonincharacter.com/maiasaura-and-the-moon/  

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

Sign up for FREE access to our Dorktales Resource Library stocked with color pages, activity guides, conversation starter PDFs, printables and more: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card

Transcript

Jonathan 0:32

Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to Dork Tales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.

Theme Song 0:45

It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us regale you.

Redge 1:09

A volcano! Hurry, hurry! This is our last shot!

Minh 1:14

The lava is coming! Watch out for the lava!

Redge 1:19

Oh no! We're not going to make it!

Minh 1:23

Tyran!

Maiasaura 1 1:28

Huh?

Maiasaura 2 1:29

I don't get it.

Maiasaura 3 1:30

What's going on?

Jonathan 1:32

Um, Redge is this really where you want to start the story? At the volcano?

Redge 1:37

Oh, um I guess it is a bit confusing, isn't it?

Jonathan 1:42

Y es, especially when this is a story about a miniature golf tournament.

Maiasaura 1 1:47

What happens to our big brother?

Redge 1:50

Uh let's start again, shall we?

Why Bring Golf Clubs

Jonathan 1:52

At the beginning.

Redge 1:54

At the beginning. It is a very good place to start, you know.

Maiasaura 2 1:58

Can I have another snack?

Jonathan 2:07

I can't believe we're back in the Quotatious period. I just love dinosaurs.

Redge 2:13

It is a treat, is it not? There's so much to explore here. The strange prehistoric terrain, the gentle ecosystem of reptiles on land, sea, and air. The 

Jonathan 2:25

but why did I need to bring my golf clubs again?

Minh 2:28

Oh, I could tell you that.

Group 2:30

Minh!

Redge 2:31

Hello, Minh! Jonathan, you remember our good Maiasaura friend, Minh?

Jonathan 2:37

Of course. A dino just as interested in space as I am. How could I forget? Still reaching for the moon, Minh?

Minh 2:46

Oh yeah. In fact, that's why I reached out to Redge for help.

Jonathan 2:50

Oh help with what?

Redge 2:52

He's trying to raise money so he can attend the Lunar Launcher's Space Camp in Litropia this summer.

Jonathan 2:59

I've been to space camp before. You'll love it. Have you gotten your spacesuit yet?

Minh 3:04

Yeah. It's my older brother's though. It's three sizes too big, but my mom says, when you're one of thirteen in a nest and the first of three nests, you gotta learn to share.

Redge 3:15

One of thirteen in a nest? Three nests? That's uh um do the math for me, Jonathan.

Jonathan 3:24

Thirty-nine.

Minh 3:25

That's right.

Redge 3:26

I have thirty-eight siblings. Ooh, impressive. My cousin, Rodge, has six.

Minh 3:33

Yeah. With that many siblings, I've gotta raise the money to get to space camp and pay for the tuition and all the supplies. That's why I invited you and Redge to be on our team for the Quotatious Period's Mini Golf Masters.

Jonathan 3:48

What do we get if we win?

Tyran Joins the Team

Minh 3:50

The winning team gets a cash prize.

Jonathan 3:52

Enough to get you to space camp?

Minh 3:54

Oh, more than enough.

Jonathan 3:56

Alright, let's do it.

Redge 3:58

Oh wait, wait, wait. Uh we have a team name?

Minh 4:01

Oh, you bet. Team Space Cadets.

Redge 4:05

Truly out of this world.

Jonathan 4:07

Let's blast off.

Minh 4:09

The course starts just over there.

Jonathan 4:11

Wow. It runs through those spiky trees, over the swampy terrain, across the river, and even up that dark black mountain.

Redge 4:19

With prehistoric obstacles along the way. 

Minh 4:22

Yep. I'm just waiting for my friend, Tyran. We need four to play the tournament. He said he'd meet me early for some practice swings, but I haven't seen him yet.

Jonathan 4:33

Is Tyran a young Tyrannosaurus?

Minh 4:36

Yeah.

Redge 4:37

Does he typically like to hide in shrubbery?

Jonathan 4:40

Or uh crouch in the bushes?

Minh 4:42

Huh? Tyran, what are you doing over there in the bushes? Come meet Redge and Jonathan. They're gonna be part of our team.

Tyran 4:53

Oh, uh hi there.

Redge 4:56

Hello.

Jonathan 4:57

Very pleased to meet you.

Tyran 4:59

Uh I'm sorry, Minh, but I won't be able to help you.

Minh 5:03

Oh? Why not? Is everything okay?

Tyran 5:06

Um well, I came here early to try some practice swings, and uh

Jonathan 5:12

and?

Redge 5:13

Y es, what's wrong, young lad?

Tyran 5:16

I just can't do it!

Minh 5:18

Aw, sure you can, Tyran.

Tyran 5:21

No, I really really can't. You see, well my arms

Jonathan 5:28

Yeah, what about them?

Tyran 5:29

They're too short. My arms are too short to reach the ground with the golf club. I'm so sorry, Minh.

Minh 5:37

Oh, it's okay, Tyran. Uh maybe we can try something else.

Tyran 5:41

I'd be good in roaring contest. Listen.

Redge 5:47

No kidding, wow.

Jonathan 5:50

Wait a second. What about your tail?

Tyran 5:53

What about it?

Jonathan 5:54

What if you use your tail to hit the golf ball instead of using a golf club?

Redge 5:58

Oh splendid idea!

Hole One

Minh 6:00

W ell there's no rule against it. Patty, the apatosaurus, did that last year.

Tyran 6:06

Alright, well let me give it a try. Whoops. No good.

Jonathan 6:11

Uh make sure your feet are planted firmly, but face backwards away from the tee. Good.

Redge 6:17

Now lift the tail way back.

Minh 6:21

And let it rip.

Tyran 6:26

I did it!

Redge 6:27

You sure did.

Jonathan 6:29

I've never seen a ball go that far before.

Minh 6:31

Wow, wee! Nice one, Tyran! 

Announcer 6:34

Team Space Cadets, to your places at hole one. Team Space Cadets to hole one, please.

Minh 6:40

That's us. Ready, Tyran?

Tyran 6:43

Alright, ready as I'll ever be.

Redge 6:59

Wow, team!

Jonathan 7:00

Really great so far!

Minh 7:02

Tyran, your putt on the last hole was truly epic!

Redge 7:07

Yes, sensational!

Where's the Next Hole?

Minh 7:09

They made it particularly tricky with all the pterosaurs blocking the hole.

Jonathan 7:13

I got lucky getting my ball through the pterosaur's legs.

Tyran 7:17

I knew that if I could get my tail under the ball a bit and bounce it off of one of the pterosaur's wings, I could get it close to the hole.

Jonathan 7:25

Close? It was a hole in one!

Minh 7:27

And your savvy shot has put us in the lead.

Redge 7:31

With just three more holes to go, we're so close to the finish!

Jonathan 7:36

And one step closer to getting Minh to space camp.

Group 7:39

Alright! Yeah! 

Tyran 7:43

Where's our next hole?

Jonathan 7:45

Uh this way.

Redge 7:51

What is that?

Minh 7:54

That is a prehistoric frog, a Beezle bufo.

Jonathan 7:58

It's the size of a beach ball.

Tyran 8:00

Yep, and they're not known for their pleasant disposition.

Redge 8:11

What is it doing here?

Minh 8:13

It looks like we need to putt into its mouth, so we can launch the ball over the creek behind it.

Jonathan 8:19

O h boy, there's no way around it.

Minh 8:22

Not that I can see.

Tyran 8:23

Uh who wants to go first?

Redge 8:26

I'll give it a shot. Here goes nothing.

Minh 8:31

Gently now, Redge, you don't want to upset it.

Jonathan 8:42

Oh, great job, Redge!

Redge 8:45

Ooh, where'd it land?

Minh 8:47

Uh off the green, but it shouldn't set us too far back.

Jonathan 8:50

Tyran, you want to give it a shot?

Tyran 8:53

Sure.

Minh 8:54

Gentle now.

Tyran 8:56

Oh shucks. Too short.

Minh 8:59

Oh, that's alright. Give it another tap.

Redge 9:09

Oh, not bad, not bad. Jonathan.

Jonathan 9:12

Here I go.

Minh 9:20

That one's on the green! Nice shot, Jonathan.

The Bronto Golf Hole

Redge 9:23

Oh, Minh, you're up. Minh?

Jonathan 9:26

What you doing there, Minh?

Minh 9:28

I'm covering my ball in sticky algae and placing insects all over for the frog to enjoy.

Redge 9:34

Genius!

Minh 9:36

Here goes!

Group 9:48

Hole in one!

Jonathan 9:50

Genius idea, Minh!

Minh 9:51

Nothing makes a Beezle bufo happier than a midday snack. 

Redge 9:55

Nothing makes me happier either. Okay, Jonathan. New hole. No pressure.

Bronto 10:07

You've got this.

Minh 10:09

Our Beezle bufo frog hole put us behind two points, but if you can sink this one,

The Final Hole

Jonathan 10:14

I know, I know, we'll be tied up. I can do this. I just have to use the brontosaurus tail. It's wrapped around the green perfectly. If I can hit my ball hard enough, I can get it to follow along the Bronto's tail. If it follows the tail at the right velocity, the ball will cup around the green, bounce off one of the dino eggs in the Bronto's nest at the end of the tail, and

Redge 10:37

go straight into the hole.

Bronto 10:40

You've got this.

Jonathan 10:41

Oh, thank you, Mr. Bronto.

Group 10:46

Oh! Right on! Oh yeah!

Bronto 10:50

Oh, nice shot. It tickled. 

Redge 10:58

Well, friends, we've made it to our final hole on top of this dark black mountain.

Tyran 11:03

Ah, this doesn't look too tricky at all.

Jonathan 11:05

Just gotta make it over those rocks and into the hole.

Minh 11:12

Oh, what was that?

Jonathan 11:13

Probably just Redge's s tomach.

Redge 11:16

W ell, I am feeling a bit peckish. I'll go first and then let's head to the snack shed.

Minh 11:31

As we finish up, I just want to take a second to thank you all. I truly appreciate you taking the time to come out of the Folktale Forest and help me. I couldn't have done it without you.

Jonathan 11:48

It was our pleasure, Minh.

Redge 11:58

We can't wait to hear all about Lunar Launches Space Camp.

Tyran 12:02

Thanks for believing in me, Minh. I've had such a great time today learning something new that I

Jonathan 12:09

wait a second.

Redge 12:11

That's not my stomach.

Tyran 12:14

And this isn't just any mountain. It's

Redge 12:19

a volcano! Hurry! Hurry! This is our last shot!

Minh 12:24

The lava's coming! Watch out for the lava!

Redge 12:27

O h no!

Minh 12:31

We're not going to make it!

Redge 12:32

T yran!

Jonathan 12:34

Can you get the shot off before the lava covers the hole?

Minh 12:37

Hurry!

Group 12:43

Oh no!

Auntie Maia's Surprise News

Tyran 12:45

I didn't make it in time! My ball's been swallowed by the lava! Oh Minh, I'm so sorry.

Minh 12:53

It's it's okay.

Jonathan 12:55

Well, there's always next year, right?

Minh 12:58

Yeah, I guess.

Tyran 13:00

I'm sorry.

Minh 13:01

Well it's not your fault. It's no one's fault. Everyone tried their best.

Redge 13:07

This just doesn't seem fair.

Minh 13:09

Huh? It's Dino Mini Golf. Sometimes you have to play in extreme elements.

Jonathan 13:15

What a bummer.

Minh 13:16

Let's head back. The lava will only get worse. Snacks all around! 

Auntie Maia 13:21

Minh!

Minh 13:22

Auntie Maya?

Auntie Maia 13:25

Minh! I've been trying to catch up with you all morning.

Redge 13:29

Oh hello there!

Auntie Maia 13:30

Hi!

Jonathan 13:31

W hat's going on?

Auntie Maia 13:33

Well, your mom sent me to find you so I can give you this letter.

Minh 13:37

A letter? Oh, that doesn't seem too exciting.

Tyran 13:40

But Min, look! It's from the Lunar Launcher Space Academy.

Redge 13:45

Open it! Open it!

Jonathan 13:48

Well, what does it say?

Minh 13:50

I can't believe it!

Tyran 13:52

What?

Minh 13:53

They're giving me a full scholarship to attend the summer camp! Full tuition, travel, and supplies.

Auntie Maia 14:01

Oh, I knew it was good news. I just knew it.

Minh 14:05

They said I'll be the first dino to ever be a lunar launcher.

Redge 14:10

This is most excellent!

Jonathan 14:12

C ongratulations, Minh!

Tyran 14:14

That's my friend!

Maiasaura 1 14:21

That was awesome!

Maiasaura 2 14:23

Our big brother is the best!

Maiasaura 3 14:25

Y ay for Minh!

Redge 14:27

What a story! What an adventure!

Jonathan 14:31

And much easier to follow when you start at the beginning of the story.

Redge 14:35

T oo true. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and jump to the big climactic

Jonathan 14:42

volcanic eruption?

Redge 14:43

Right.

Jonathan 14:44

Oh Redge.

Redge 14:46

What can I say? I'm a sucker for prehistoric pyrotechnics.

Jonathan 14:51

And I'm a sucker for prehistoric well, anything.

Maiasaura 1 14:55

Uh, excuse me, can I have more snacks?

Jonathan 15:00

This has been a Jon in Character production. This story was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. We love hearing from you. Contact us at Dorktalestorytime at gmail.com or try our one-way text feature as a safe way to reach out. You can find even more ways to reach us in the show notes. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you next once upon a time.

Theme Song 15:35

So gather your squad For all to see It’s a universe that we’ve imagined There’s twists and turns and lessons learned This is where the unexpected happens

Theme Song 15:36

Join our humble hosts and hit the trails Of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.