- December 10, 2025
- Courses,Design,Mini Golf,
- Tracey
Mini golf may have started as a fun-sized version of the traditional game, but in 2026, it’s a serious driver of foot traffic, revenue, and venue transformation. According to Golf Australia’s 2023 Participation Report, over 2 million Australians now play “off-course” golf – a category that includes both mini golf and driving ranges.
Mini golf isn’t just for kids or tourists anymore. As Geoff Bennell, founder of Mini Golf Creations, explains, it has seen a major resurgence.
“It’s had a massive resurgence,” says Geoff, who has designed and built 14 courses across Australia to date.
A new kind of customer, a new kind of venue
What’s driving this growth? A shift in how families, young adults, and social groups want to spend their time and money. Instead of a traditional round of 18 holes, people are looking for something more flexible, social and accessible.
Mini Golf Creations works directly with golf clubs, councils and hospitality venues who want to create unique, commercially successful experiences that appeal to a wider audience.
“People are using mini golf to add on to their current business or to build a viable, sustainable place where people can come and eat, drink, and have fun,” Geoff explains.
Designed for fun. Built for profit.
The courses we build are not the windmill-and-clown putt putt setups of the past. These are large-scale, high-quality experiences that blend landscaping, design, and strategy.
“We have bridges, creeks, obstacles and pipework where the golf ball disappears underground and pops out somewhere else.”
Each course is designed to deliver a “wow” factor – whether you’re an experienced golfer or a first-time visitor.
“We’re always looking for something to bring that wow factor to experienced players, but also to kids and mums and dads who have never picked up a golf putter before.”
Mini Golf Creations courses average around 2,500 square metres, and take between 14 and 20 weeks to build. They’re engineered not just for fun, but for performance – with proven commercial outcomes across Australia.
Learn more about our course design process
Mini golf or putt putt – what’s the difference?
There’s often confusion between the terms “mini golf” and “putt putt,” and it’s something Geoff often explains to new clients.
- Putt putt is often flat, novelty-style, and theme-driven – think bright colours, arcade-like experiences, and mechanical obstacles.
- Mini golf, as designed by Mini Golf Creations, is more naturalistic, landscaped, and challenging. It mimics the flow and feel of traditional golf, scaled down for everyone to enjoy.
“[Mini golf courses] bring a slightly different challenge where you’re actually putting to the golf cup, whereas with the old style, you were ricocheting the ball off a piece of timber or something to get close to the hole.”
That distinction matters – especially when you’re investing in a long-term, multi-purpose facility that needs to appeal to broad demographics while maintaining a premium feel.
Why venues are turning to mini golf
From private golf clubs and public courses to resorts and council facilities, the addition of mini golf is proving to be a smart, future-focused investment.
The value is not just in ticket sales – it’s in the ancillary spend. Mini golf drives:
- Increased food and beverage purchases
- More social media sharing and brand awareness
- Higher visit frequency
- Stronger appeal to families, younger audiences and non-golfers
In short, mini golf makes venues more inclusive, profitable, and future-proof.
See our past projects across Australia
Get expert guidance from Australia’s most experienced mini golf builder
With over 14 large-scale courses delivered to date, Mini Golf Creations is trusted by venues that want to do things properly from day one.
Led by Geoff Bennell – a former golf course superintendent and founder of Turf Green – our team combines deep industry knowledge with end-to-end project delivery. We don’t just build mini golf courses – we create fully integrated experiences that drive commercial results.
If you’re considering mini golf at your facility, start by speaking with the experts.
Contact Mini Golf Creations to explore your vision, get answers to common questions, and take the first step.
