On September 21 of each year, we celebrate the sport on Miniature Golf Day. Miniature golf is far older than most people would think. It can be traced back to the mid-1800s and the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Women were prohibited from playing golf in those days because it was unladylike. The Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews took matters into their own hands. If they could not play golf, they could putt it on smaller courses. Miniature golf was born.
The growth of the game was slow. But, shortly after the end of World War I, the game was introduced in the United States. Americans loved miniature golf, and the game became wildly popular. In the mid-1950s, miniature golf began to be themed and feature unique obstacles like a clown’s mouth opening and closing.
Today, you can find outrageously designed courses in all fifty states. There is a course for everyone’s favorite theme.
Fun Facts About Miniature Golf
1.) The world record score for miniature golf is 18 strokes on 18 holes. Over 1,000 golfers accomplished this feat.
2.) In northern countries with long nights, like Canada and Finland, people play a unique glow-in-the-dark form of mini-golf.
3.) The first miniature golf course in the United States was built in 1916 at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The name of the course is Thistle Dhu, a Scottish expression for this will do. A reference to the fact that a mini-golf course will do over a regular golf course.
4.) There are portable mini golf fairways that can be used to create pop-up courses. Perfect for festivals, fairs, or fundraisers.
5.) In the 1920s, over 150 rooftop miniature golf courses in New York City.
6.) Some mini golf courses are built from natural grass and feature smaller versions of regular-sized course hazards. Hazards like sand traps, lakes, and trees.
7.) The holes on mini-golf courses can be made of natural grass, artificial turf, concrete, felt, or an exciting mixture of sand, oil, cottonseed hulls, and green dye.
8.) In the early days, miniature golf hazards did not include fancy sculptures or mechanical features. Early courses used old tires, pipes, barrels, rain gutters, and shipping crates.
9.) Around the world, there are many different names for miniature golf courses. Names include Skill Golf, Shorties, Mini-Golf, Goofy Golf, Silly Golf, Crazy Golf, Midget Golf, Extreme Golf, Adventure Golf, Mini-Putt, and Putter Golf.
10.) The Depression hit miniature golf extremely hard. Almost all the courses were closed and demolished.
See “Much Ado About Putting: Mini Golf Tips To Win.”
The Ten Best Miniature Golf Courses in the World
1.) Wengen, Switzerland – Lauberhorn Crazy Golf is a miniature golf course for fans of mini-golf and skiing. It is dedicated to the well-known Lauberhorn Downhill Ski Races. The course features a snow cannon, slalom gates, and artificial snow. All the holes offer views of the stunning Bernese Alps.
2.) Del Mar, CA – Pelly’s Mini Golf has two 18-hole courses for patrons to enjoy. Pelly’s Ocean Course has twenty sculptures of sharks, whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Pelly’s Surfin’ Safari is themed after the area’s favorite pastime. All the turf on both courses is blue to simulate the ocean.
3.) Leiderdorp, Netherlands – Bubble Jungle Golf in the Dark is what it sounds like. A darkened miniature golf course with holes and features that glow in the dark. Not only are players enjoying mini-golf, but they are also trying to solve a mystery. They must use clues on every hole. If they solve the mystery in 18 holes, they save the life of famous singer Diva Laguna.
4.) Minneapolis, MN – Skyline Golf – each year, The Walker Art Center creates a mini-golf course on the museum’s roof. A local artist designs each hole. Holes may be themed after a famous piece of art or a quirky mix of kitschy knick-knacks. The course offers a beautiful view of the Minneapolis skyline.
5.) Orlando, FL – Disney’s Winter Summer Land Miniature Golf is adjacent to the Walt Disney World Parks. Two courses feature theme-appropriate hazards and fixtures. One course is themed and designed to celebrate Summer. The other course has a melting snowman and ice castle for a tribute to Winter.
More Top Courses
6.) Phuket, Thailand – Dino Park Mini Golf is all about dinosaurs, volcanos, and lava flows. Full-size ultra-realistic dinosaur sculptures are scattered throughout the course. A volcano erupts randomly while moving dinosaurs menace the prehistoric putters.
7.) Merseyside, England – Championship Adventure Golf is for miniature golfers who take the game seriously. It has two 18-hole courses. The Landmark Course features recognizable attractions and buildings from the surrounding area. The Championship Course features 18 holes replicas of the world’s 18 most famous regulation holes. Both courses use natural turf and vegetation.
8.) Lincolnshire, IL – Par-King Skill Golf has two 18-hole courses that are crazy fun. The entire layout includes nineteen mechanized figures and hazards. It has seven water features scattered throughout the courses. There is a roller coaster, roulette wheel, spaceship, building replicas, and even a pink castle.
9.) Christchurch, New Zealand – Caddy Shack City is located inside a nondescript warehouse on the city’s edge. Each of its 18 holes is themed differently. A space station rewards a hole-in-one by signaling a rocket to take off. A small candy factory dispenses a lollipop when there is a hole-in-one.
10.) Branson, MO – Shoot for the Stars Mini-Golf offers a miniature tour of Hollywood in a golf setting. Many Hollywood landmarks are featured, including Grauman’s Chinese Theater, The Hollywood Bowl, and the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mini Golf Captions for Instagram
You’re still out.
Sorry, you’ve reached the maximum allowable number of strokes.
I putt, therefore I am.
Of all the hazards in miniature golf, fear is the worst.
A putter by any other name would still be a putter.
Look, it’s my first hole-in-one.
My score gets better when I keep score.
Keep calm and putt.
Best golfer by par.
I have a terrible case of the miniature golf putting yips.
The GolfFather.
Let’s ParTee!
Certainly, you can play through; the windmill is right over there.
A Challenging Mini-Golf Video
FAQs
Here are frequently asked questions about Miniature Golf.
How to Celebrate Mini Golf?
The obvious answer is to play a round of mini-golf. You could even spend an entire day playing different courses. But here are a few suggestions to make your day even more fun:
After a refreshing round, head home for a slice of golf-themed cake.
Post pictures of you and your friends on social media using the hashtag #miniaturegolfday.
Throw a mini-golf party in your house. Set up a hole on the carpet using plastic glasses for the cups. You can even award a trophy for the winning score.
Create miniature golf sports trading cards using pictures of your friends and family.
While you are playing, come up with silly names for each hole. Names like “Dad’s Hole” or “Creature from the Golf Lagoon Hole.”
How Many Miniature Golf Courses Are There?
In the United States, there are over 1,000 miniature golf courses nationwide. The miniature golf industry employs 6700 individuals. The market accounts for sales of $337 million annually.
Internationally, the sport of miniature golf is governed by The World MiniGolf Federation, headquartered in Sweden. It is a popular pastime in over fifty countries, with the World MiniGolf Federation counting over 40,000 members.
Are There Miniature Golf Professionals?
Yes. The US Pro Minigolf Association is an affiliate of The World MiniGolf Federation. Players play a Master’s Tournament, US Open, and several other tournaments each year.
Professional players can earn checks from $1,000 to $10,000 for winning a tournament. There is even a USPMGA Hall of Fame with fourteen members.
What is the Difference Between Miniature Golf and Putt-Putt Golf?
While similar in concept and execution, the two games have marked differences. Putt-Putt Golf can be considered a derivative of both regular golf and miniature golf.
Invented by Mr. Don Clayton in the 1950s, Putt-Putt Golf is a unique game. All Putt-Putt golf holes are designed to be able to make hole-in-ones. Par on all Putt-Putt Golf holes is two.
Miniature Golf started as proper miniaturization of regulation golf holes. Mini-golf holes can have par 3’s, par 4’s, and par 5’s. In 1927, a young entrepreneur named Garnet Carter created a mini-golf course he called Tom Thumb Golf.
Carter added obstacles and gnome-like figures throughout his course. He patented the idea and began franchising.
His course idea then evolved into the elaborate mini-golf courses we see today.
Mini Golf Day Days and Dates
Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Monday, September 21, 2026.
By Tim Moodie
Ever since he was a child, Tim Moodie has been an avid miniature golfer. He is not sure what his handicap is, but he would say it is his putting stroke if you asked him. He is a huge fan of the TV Show Holey Moley.
Overtime
You are on our Miniature Golf Day (September 21) page.
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