Ava Romero
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, crazy golf, putt-putt, and by several other names, is a novelty golf game played with a putter on a miniature course. The game typically features tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and obstacles. Miniature golf is an offshoot of the sport of golf, focusing on the putting aspect of the game. The aim is to score the lowest number of points, with the lowest possible score being a hole-in-one. The first miniature golf courses emerged in the early 20th century, and the game has since become a popular pastime worldwide, with various names and variations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names | Miniature golf, minigolf, putt-putt, crazy golf, mini-golf, midget golf, goofy golf, shorties, extreme golf, adventure golf, mini-putt, putter golf |
| Aim | To score the lowest number of points |
| Course | Consists of a series of holes (usually a multiple of 9) that are short (less than 10 meters from tee to cup) |
| Surface | Artificial putting surfaces such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete |
| Layout | Geometric layout requiring non-traditional putting lines such as bank shots |
| Obstacles | Artificial obstacles such as tunnels, tubes, ramps, moving obstacles like windmills, and walls made of concrete, metal, or fiberglass |
| Terminology | Par, birdie, eagle, hole-in-one, fore, fairway, rough |
| History | The earliest documented minigolf competitions were played in the United States in the 1930s. The game spread to Europe, where it is known as "crazy golf" in Britain and "midged golf" in the Netherlands. |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Miniature golf' is also known as other names like minigolf, crazy golf, and putt-putt
- The game has different names in different countries
- Miniature golf is an offshoot of golf, focusing on putting
- The aim is to score the lowest number of points
- The first miniature golf courses were built in the early 20th century
'Miniature golf' is also known as other names like minigolf, crazy golf, and putt-putt
Miniature golf is a novelty golf game played with a putter on a miniature course. The game usually involves tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and obstacles. The first miniature golf courses to enter commercial mass production were the Thistle Dhu ("This'll Do") course in 1916 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and the 1927 Tom Thumb patent of Garnet Carter from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Miniature golf is also known by other names, including:
Minigolf
The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers this name. The term was formerly a registered trademark of a Swedish company that built its own patented type of minigolf courses. The earliest documented mention of such a course is in the June 8, 1912, edition of The Illustrated London News, which introduces a minigolf course called the Gofstacle.
Crazy golf
This name is used in the United Kingdom. Crazy golf is played differently from ordinary golf, as each player has a turn to finish the entire hole before the next one begins. In the final round, all players play simultaneously, making it a "crazy" game.
Putt-putt
Putt-Putt is the trademark of an American company that builds and franchises miniature golf courses. The term is sometimes used colloquially to refer to the game itself. Putt-Putt's short holes are designed so that a hole-in-one can be scored on each hole with a skillful putt, often through the use of banking.
Miniature golf is also known by several other names, including mini-golf, midget golf, goofy golf, shorties, extreme golf, adventure golf, mini-putt, and putter golf.
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The game has different names in different countries
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, is a novelty golf game played with a putter on a miniature course. The game typically features tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and obstacles. While the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers the name minigolf, the sport has several names that vary across different countries and cultures.
In the United States, miniature golf is often called mini-golf, putt-putt, crazy golf, or goofy golf. Putt-Putt is specifically the trademark of an American company that builds and franchises miniature golf courses. The term "putt-putt" is also used colloquially to refer to the game itself. Miniature golf or minigolf was first played and standardized in the United States during the early 20th century, with the game spreading across the country and experiencing a boom during the 1920s and 1930s.
In the United Kingdom, the game is commonly referred to as crazy golf. This variation of miniature golf is known for its unique playing style, where each player completes an entire hole before the next player begins, making it a "crazy" and exciting version of the game.
In Canada, miniature golf may be called mini-putt or simply golf, as observed by some Canadians on online forums. The first miniature golf course in Canada was introduced at the Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, in the 1930s.
In Sweden, the term "minigolf" was formerly a registered trademark of a Swedish company that built its own patented type of minigolf courses. The game spread to Sweden through Edwin O. Norrman and Eskil Norman, who brought the concept back from the United States in 1930. They founded the company "Norman och Norrmans Miniatyrgolf" in 1931 and began manufacturing standardized minigolf courses for the Swedish market.
In the Netherlands, miniature golf is called Midget Golf, adopting the English name for the sport.
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Miniature golf is an offshoot of golf, focusing on putting
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is a novelty offshoot of traditional golf that focuses on the putting aspect of the game. It is played on a miniature course that usually includes tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and obstacles. The aim is to score the lowest number of points, and the game typically uses artificial putting surfaces such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete.
The first miniature golf course was built in 1867 at the Ladies' Putting Club in Scotland. However, the game gained momentum in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States. The first documented course was mentioned in the June 8, 1912 edition of The Illustrated London News, and by 1916, the first public course opened in North Carolina, known as Thistle Dhu. This course featured imaginative obstacles and design elements, making the game accessible and appealing to people of all ages.
During the early to mid-20th century, miniature golf experienced a boom in the United States, with over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone by the late 1920s. This boom eventually spread to Europe, with one of the first documented European courses built in 1926 in Hamburg, Germany. The game's popularity in the US declined during the Great Depression in the late 1930s, but it has since recovered, and miniature golf is now enjoyed as a recreational activity worldwide.
Miniature golf has unique terminology to describe various aspects of the game. For example, "par" refers to the predetermined number of putts it should take to complete a hole, and a "birdie" occurs when a player completes a hole in one putt less than par. Miniature golf courses often feature creative themes, such as pirates, dinosaurs, or glow-in-the-dark designs, adding to the entertainment value of the game.
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The aim is to score the lowest number of points
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, crazy golf, putt-putt, and by several other names, is a novelty golf game that is played with a putter on a miniature course. The aim of the game is to score the lowest number of points.
The game typically involves a series of holes, usually a multiple of 9, and the holes are short, usually less than 10 meters from tee to cup. Each player takes their first putt, and then the player farthest from the hole takes their second putt. Achieving par means completing a hole in the expected number of putts. A birdie is when a hole is completed in one putt less than par, and an eagle is a rare feat, occurring when a hole is completed in two putts less than par. A hole-in-one is the ultimate achievement, where a player sinks the ball into the hole in a single putt.
The courses can include tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and obstacles. Some courses have themes, such as a storybook or religious theme, while others twist and turn around man-made mountains, lakes, and caves. The first miniature golf courses emerged in the early 20th century, with the earliest documented mention of a minigolf course in the June 8, 1912 edition of The Illustrated London News. The game experienced a boom in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in the United States and Europe, before declining during the Great Depression.
The different names for the game vary by region and the specific type of game being played. For example, in the Netherlands, it is called Midget Golf, using the English term, while in Canada, it is known as putt-putt or putter golf. The name "Putt-Putt" is also the trademark of an American company that builds and franchises miniature golf courses. The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers the name minigolf, but the game has many other names, including mini-golf, midget golf, goofy golf, shorties, extreme golf, adventure golf, mini-putt, and putter golf.
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The first miniature golf courses were built in the early 20th century
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, putt-putt, crazy golf, and various other names, is an offshoot of traditional golf that focuses on the putting aspect of the game. The aim is to score the lowest number of points, and the game is played on a course consisting of a series of holes, usually a multiple of 9, that are shorter than those of a standard golf course. Miniature golf courses usually feature artificial putting surfaces, such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete, and often include obstacles such as tunnels, tubes, ramps, and walls.
In the 1920s, miniature golf experienced a surge in popularity across the United States, with the game becoming accessible to people across the country thanks to the formulation of a suitable artificial green made from a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil, and dye. By the late 1920s, there were over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone and tens of thousands across the United States. This American minigolf boom of the early 20th century inspired the spread of the game to other countries, including Canada and Europe.
The first miniature golf franchise, Tom Thumb Golf, was established in 1929, and by the early 1930s, it was estimated that approximately 25% of miniature golf courses in the U.S. were Tom Thumb-patented designs. The 1930s also saw the first National Tom Thumb Open minigolf tournament, with a total cash purse of $10,000. However, the Great Depression in the late 1930s brought an end to the American minigolf boom, and by the end of the decade, nearly all minigolf courses in the United States had closed or been demolished.
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Frequently asked questions
Miniature golf is also commonly referred to as mini golf, crazy golf, and putt-putt. The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers the name minigolf.
Miniature golf has several names that vary across different countries and regions, including mini-golf, midget golf, goofy golf, shorties, extreme golf, adventure golf, mini-putt, and putter golf.
Miniature golf is an offshoot of the sport of golf that focuses on the putting aspect of the game. It is played on a miniature course with obstacles such as tunnels, bridges, sharp corners, and walls. The aim is to complete each hole in the fewest number of putts, with the lowest score winning.
