Holey Moley! Aiken native competes on hit mini golf show

Jun. 27—One Aiken native made a splash on ABC in a larger-than-life game show experience.

Freelance journalist Michel'le Jackson Anderson had the opportunity to compete on the hit show "Holey Moley" in season 4, currently airing Tuesday nights on ABC. "Holey Moley" is a competition television show in which contestants compete against each other on an "oversized and outrageous" mini-golf course.

Anderson, who was living in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the taping of the show, was going to different castings and applying to things online when she received a call from ABC.

Although the initial offer and show description were semi-ambiguous, Anderson said that she had the goal to do something that was "pure television and pure entertainment."

It also did not hurt that her husband, Ryan, is an avid golfer who has competed in a few tournaments in Nevada. She said that he became "like her coach," as they would hit the courses, and mini-courses, together.

The pair also produces a mini-golfing series for her YouTube channel, MJackRadio. She said it was a great combination for the couple as she is "good at broadcast journalism, and he's good at golf."

So, when she was asked to be on the larger-than-life golfing show, she said she "was kind of ready."

In preparation for the show, she "mini golfed all the time." Even when she was not on a mini-golf course, she would hit the greens with her husband and practice her putting.

Once it was time for filming, she arrived on the set in Santa Clarita, California, where the production went fast. She began her interview process for the footage that roles before the competition.

When asked about that process, Anderson said, "I'm so used to being on the other side ... asking the questions." She added, "it felt like a full-circle moment," that really "gave [her] a lot of confidence in regard to content creating."

She spoke about how she feels that the interview presented a "well-rounded" picture of herself, and that it was a "very supportive environment."

After her interview, she was taken out onto the course where she was assigned her hole.

She remembers the moment she realized the hole she was competing on was "basically a trapeze." She went on to say that she is "a little afraid of heights," and that while she was up there, she was "holding the bar and something [had] to make [her] jump."

She recalled thinking of her nephew, and that he was going to think it was "so funny."

When people are watching on television, it "doesn't look as high up or scary," Anderson said; but she remembered it's "a family show," and she wanted to be able to have fun and entertain others.

Her episode, season 4 episode 4, originally aired on May 24. Those who are interested can watch the episode on Hulu or the ABC website. Anderson did not want to give away the results, but she did speak about the wonderful impacts of being on such a big show.

She said that she has received "overwhelming support" from everyone around her. She specifically said that she "really appreciate[s] all the support that [she] continuously get[s] from the Aiken community." She went on saying "it's really cool to be from a small town," and that it "really has a family feel."

"When you're trying to do something like broadcast journalism or in the arts, you just have to follow your heart," she said. "If it all goes right, or it all goes wrong, the Aiken community will be there."