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Experienced players might know that, as well. The final holes of miniature golf courses typically feature a chute that takes the ball down the hole to an unseen catch, where it'll be collected later. Galbato's course — which opened last month at his family eatery, Tom Thumb Drive-In — is no different.

Yet that doesn't stop Galbato, 80, from playfully pranking younger patrons. When the children return their putters to the clubhouse, Galbato — with a concerned look on his face — confusedly asks, "Where's the ball?"

"If you see their expressions, it's worth a million dollars," he said. "That's the best part."

Galbato's fun began after Tom Thumb, at 6143 E. Lake Road, opened the course on an adjacent property that was once Betty's Lakeview Grocery. And with the drive-in overlooking the northwestern shore of Owasco Lake, nautical was the natural choice of theme.

The course is decorated with an aquatic aesthetic, such as rope fencing, a waterfall made of boulders and even a marooned rowboat skewed in the path of one of the holes.

Owner Tom Galbato said the seventh hole particularly stands out among the rest. Rather than a traditional putt down the green, a golfer can shoot their ball into a nearby stream to be carried down the currents and close to — if not into — the hole.

The design was inspired by his 11-year-old grandson, Galbato said.

"What's very unique about the place is that view," he said about the course. "You have a million-dollar view."

After Galbato purchased the former Betty's Lakeview in 2012, he said he discussed a few possible uses for the property with his children, Sebastian, Sandra and Rick.

The family explored the possibility of a gas station or convenience store, but Galbato said the area's traffic flows were found too lacking by an expert. The notion of a miniature golf course stood out to the Galbatos, so they worked with architects to get town approval, which was issued in 2015.

During several meetings with Owasco's town and planning boards, several from the community with complaints about potential traffic, lighting and noise disturbances.

However, ever since opening the course on July 25, Galbato said the response has been nothing but "incredible," with comments about the course's moderate difficulty and "gorgeous" view.

Designing the course saw the Galbatos research miniature golf contractors across the country — including a national miniature golf designer at Disney World, Galbato said.

The course is the latest addition in the Tom Thumb Drive-In's 38-year history. Though Galbato said the excitement was significantly muted due to the just two days after the course opened.

Calhoun, who was a recent graduate of Auburn High School, was leaving Tom Thumb when her SUV was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Owasco man Dain Schneider. Schneider was later .

Calhoun had just finished a round of miniature golf that night. In her honor, Galbato said he plans to dedicate the 18th hole in Calhoun's memory with a plaque in the near future.

He also intends to get a welcoming sign made for the golf course by his son-in-law Eric Kunsman, a professor of photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

In the meantime, Galbato said, he hopes the course can become an attractive spot for the community and tourists.

"They come from all over," he said. "It will be a destination."