The winning score at the fifth annual golf tournament in the offices of Butler, Rubin, Saltarelli & Boyd was 29.
The key to winning is "lucky bounces," said paralegal Kevin Wilson, a member of the winning team with Michael R. Hassan, a partner at the firm.
"Some courses are straightaways," Wilson said. "Some of them bend around hallways. If you hit the corner wrong, it will bounce in a funny direction.
"Or if you hit a door frame or hit the file cabinets" the ball can take a bad bounce.
The firm hosts the annual "Jim and Gerry Open" each year in the hallways and lobby of Butler, Rubin, at 70 W. Madison St., just before the July 4 holiday.
The open is named after two of the founding partners, James I. Rubin and Gerald G. Saltarelli.
This year, about 35 people at the firm took part, including about 20 lawyers, said David Cruz, director of facilities for the firm.
Partner James A. Morsch said he and his teammate shot a 35, "six shots off the winning score, I'm disappointed to report."
"I've gotten close, but I've never won," Morsch said. "I think I was second one year.
"I was carried this year as I was in prior years by the staff member I played with, Carmen Coronado, one of our administrative assistants.
"It's a terrific way to have fun with the staff and let their imaginations run wild."
People at the firm design the miniature-golf-style holes around a different theme each year. Some people wear costumes.
The firm awards trophies, Morsch said, "for the best dressed, the best score, and most importantly, the worst score."
The worst score this year was 46. The best designed hole also earns an award.
This year's tournament took two hours, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., on July 3, said Andrea Gordon, director of marketing for the firm.
"We typically have six holes in total, and the teams are made up of partners, associates, firm administrators, paralegals and support staff," Gordon said.
Two people make up each team.
The two golfers on each team must alternate shots. Their combined score is what counts to determine the winner, Cruz said.
Two twosomes play at the same time and each twosome keeps the other team's score.
"We don't want any funny business," Cruz said.
The holes in the course have obstacles such as boxes or chairs, books and things brought from home.
This year's theme for designing the holes was movies that take place in Chicago, Gordon said.
"Our former COO (chief operating officer) Steve Smitham started it," Gordon said. "He had done similar, mini-golf tournaments at his prior law firms, and he wanted to continue it here."
"Our switchboard remains open and the receptionist can track down golfers while they're playing," Gordon said.
The tournament is "growing in participation and creativity every year," Cruz said.
The winners this year received traveling trophies that they can keep for a year with their names engraved on them.