• March 29, 2020
  • Construction,Courses,Design,Mini Golf,Opportunities,
  • Geoff Bennell

The history of mini golf; inspired by the sport of golf, is a game enjoyed by people of all ages. It uses artificial structures such as carpet and concrete, and obstacles such as tunnels, ramps, windmills, concrete and metal walls.

The origins of mini golf can be traced back to Scotland: The Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews, built in 1827 for women golfers.

 

How has mini golf evolved over the last 200 years?

 

Why has mini golf always been so popular?

First, we should think about why the game has lasted so long and been able to evolve through time:

  • Timeless Fun for All Ages – Mini golf offers a simple yet entertaining experience that appeals to kids, adults, and seniors alike, making it a go-to activity for families and friends over the years.
  • Affordable Entertainment – Compared to other recreational activities, mini golf provides a budget-friendly option that delivers great value, keeping it popular across generations.
  • Social and Inclusive Activity – Mini golf is easy to play and requires no prior skills, allowing people of all backgrounds and abilities to enjoy it together, fostering social connections.
  • Creative and Evolving Designs – The ability to introduce new themes, obstacles, and challenges keeps mini golf fresh and exciting, ensuring people keep coming back for more.
  • Nostalgic and Memorable – Many people have fond childhood memories of playing mini golf, and the sense of nostalgia encourages them to revisit courses and introduce the game to new generations.

 

In the 1900s

Standardised mini golf courses became popular with the Thistle Dhu (which means This’ll Do) golf club in North Carolina and Tom Thumb golf club by Garnet Carter in Tennessee. Thistle Dhu courses comprised of concrete and pressed sand with fountains and gardens. The use of artificial green, which was a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil and dye made the construction of courses cheaper and more accessible. Soon after, golf courses on rooftops of buildings in New York started springing up.

 

During the 1930s

The Great Depression changed the history of the golf course as it became expensive, and people turned to mini golf courses. The mini golf courses also started using cheaper alternatives such as obstacles like tires, barrels and old drain pipes.

 

In 1954

the Putt-Putt corporation was founded in North Carolina and became the most popular golf club corporation. The term putt-putt golf is used interchangeably with mini-golf, even though there is a slight difference between them.

 

1954 Onwards

Putt putt golf courses have more well-aligned placement of holes with limited obstacles like pipes, small hills and blockers and no predominant theme. On the other hand, mini golf courses have complex themes with obstacles randomly placed and uneven borders. These miniature golf courses have realistic obstacles like windmills, waterfalls or bridges and mimic the original sport of golf.

 

Today’s Mini Golf

The sport of mini golf has been associated with various names like miniature golf, adventure golf, crazy golf, extreme golf and putt-putt (copyrighted by the famous Putt Putt golf courses).

Today’s mini-golf courses are inspired by the artificial greens used in the early 20th century. A good quality artificial grass is an essential aspect of golf as it changes the experience of the game drastically.

 

What’s the History of Mini Golf?

Our Modern Day Mini Golf Courses

Mini Golf Creations has used the principles of real golf to design its miniature golf courses. Using water features, bridges, natural obstacles made of sand and rocks, diverse terrain and attractive landscapes, we cater to both adults and children with our exciting design features.

Each layout has different holes, allowing players to use different strategies each time they play. A miniature golf course can also provide you with a business opportunity, which is exciting to run and can be a fantastic return on investment.

 

Talk to MGC!

Our experts at mini Golf Creations have almost 80 years of golf course design, we’ve taken that experience, adapted it to Mini Golf and work with clubs and businesses to design and install stunning and profitable businesses.

If you’re thinking of starting a business, or additional and complementary revenue streams to your current business or club, please feel free to contact or call our experts at Mini Golf Creations for a free consultation.