A stretch of alleyway on Columbia’s Vista district, normally used for foot traffic and service access, transforms each spring into a pop-up miniature golf course, bringing residents, visitors and businesses together for a fundraiser for public art.

Alley Golf, now in its fourth year, is organized by the Vista Neighborhood Association and Vista-area businesses to raise money for public art and beautification projects across the district.

The funds will go toward a metal arch art piece that will span the opening to the Lincoln Street tunnel trail opening near Lincoln and Lady streets. The sculpture was made by Columbia artist Clark Ellefson.

“We decided to try to raise money for that, since it was going to be a more expensive project, was we came up with the idea of doing Alley Golf, which is literally setting up three holes of putt putt in an alley somewhere,” said Carolyn Lee Decker, president of the Vista Neighborhood Association. “It took off very well.”

The event is timed around Masters Week, when Columbia sees an influx of visitors traveling to nearby Augusta. Organizers say the timing helps attract both locals and tourists looking for golf-themed activities.

“There are a lot of golfers here in Columbia,” Decker said. “We thought that would give people something to do and welcome them to Columbia and keep the whole golf theme going.”

Funds raised go directly toward public art installations in the Vista, including murals, electrical box wraps and a planned gateway project at Finlay Park.

“This is very specific to developing an art project for the city itself,” Decker said. “This will actually be the first piece of public art at the entrance to Finlay Park.”

For organizers like Jim Colwell, Alley Golf is both a fundraiser and a way to strengthen community ties in a district known for its arts identity.

“The Vista historically has been an arts and entertainment district,” Colwell said. “We wanted to help support those artists.”

He said the event also serves as a social gathering point for residents and visitors.

“It’s our largest annual fundraiser, but we also have a lot of fun doing it, meeting new people and just socializing in general,” Colwell said.

For participants, the impact is both social and cultural. Renée Johnson said she returns each year to support the cause and community.

“It just helps make this a more walkable downtown and visually beautiful,” Johnson said. “You run into your neighbors. We all know each other.”