On the Greens is our golf themed sliding Klotski puzzle. The objective of this puzzle is to slide all the pieces around in the correct way in order to move the biggest piece with the golf ball and tee painted on it to the bottom of the box. This will release the ball stuck inside and signify that the game has been won.
What’s a Klotski Puzzle?
This puzzle follows the classic 5×4 structure of traditional Klotski puzzles, similar to our others like Setting Sun and Soccer Game. Klotski puzzles have been around for a long time, and their exact origins are hard to pinpoint. Although it is known that they began rising to prominence in China during the 1930s. The theme of those original popular Klotski puzzles involved a Chinese warrior trying to evade capture and reach the gate at the bottom of the box (read more on sequential move and Klotski puzzles here), very similar to our modern day sliding puzzles. Originally, the minimum number of moves a Klotski puzzle could have was 81. Nowadays there are sliding sequential move puzzles that require thousands of moves to complete. As Klotski puzzles continue becoming ever more popular, it is common to see them appear digitally in computers and video games.
Similarities Between Golf and Klotski Puzzles
Despite a growing tendency towards all things digital, tangible wooden Klotski puzzles are irreplaceable. Nothing can replace the satisfaction and enjoyment of working through a well-made wooden Klotski puzzle and finally finding the solution after spending hours on it and being able to watch the little ball finally roll out the bottom. In this way, among others, it is a lot like golf. Any golfer will tell you that playing golf digitally on a simulator, as opposed to hitting the links and playing in real life is a completely different experience. Although the practice is still beneficial, and you go through all the same swing procedures, there is something different about doing it for real, versus seeing it on a screen that adds to the satisfaction and joy of the sport.
Similarities between golf and Klotski puzzles (especially On the Greens) do not end here though. The overarching idea and process of solving a Klotski puzzle coincides with that of golf quite nicely. With these kinds of puzzles, it is necessary to make the proper moves in the correct order to complete the puzzle in the least amount of moves possible. One must consistently make the correct moves, to slowly work toward the solution. Much the same as a hole of golf, where there is earned progress as the player hits the ball closer and closer towards the pin, in hopes of doing so in as few strokes as possible. It is impossible to hit a hole-in-one every time on the golf course, just like it’s impossible to finish a Klotski puzzle in one move. In the same way it doesn’t make sense to use a putter from the tee box, your first move on a Klotski wouldn’t involve the key, because that’s just not how it works. There are processes and foresight needed in order to set up now for success later. It takes patience, planning, and thinking ahead to have success in either of these endeavors.
Funnily enough, the pitfalls of On the Greens are like those in golf as well. In golf you have hazards like water and sand traps which can hinder your progress. If you hit the ball into the sand, you will likely have to spend a stroke or two simply hitting it out of the sand before you can get back on track and make real progress on getting to the hole. Like if a mistake is made while working on the puzzle, it’s necessary to literally undo the mistake and get back on track before you can continue progressing toward the solution again. If you slide a block incorrectly, all of the moves made afterwards will have to be undone in order to reach the point of error again and continue on in the right direction.
Although in practice golf and solving puzzles appear vastly different, it often takes the same kind of attitude and frame of mind to succeed. Completing a Klotski puzzle requires diligence, preparation, and attention to detail; all of which are key components to success in golf as well. If you have a golf lover in your life, a Klotski puzzle like On the Greens can be the perfect gift for them. Putting their brain to work in much the same way a game of golf might, and all from the comfort of home.
