Nina Caldwell
Putt golf, also known as mini golf, is a fun and simplified version of traditional golf. The objective is to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible, with the winner being the player with the fewest strokes at the end of the game. The main difference between mini golf and traditional golf is that mini golf courses usually have varied obstacles and themes, while putt-putt courses tend to be more similar to a regular golf course green. The name putt-putt comes from the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Fayetteville, NC, founded in 1954 by Don Clayton, who copyrighted the name. In the context of golf, to putt means to hit a golf ball softly with a club, usually when one is close to the hole.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | To putt is to hit a golf ball softly with a club, usually when you're close to the hole. |
| Etymology | Putt is a Scottish word that originally meant "to shove" or "to push," and came to include the golf meaning in 1743. |
| Putt-Putt | A fun version of mini golf. The name comes from an actual place in Fayetteville, NC, named the Putt-Putt Fun Center, founded in 1954. |
| Putt-Putt vs. Mini Golf | Putt-Putt courses usually have very minimal, basic obstacles such as small hills or sandpits, while mini golf courses usually have varied obstacles and individual themes. |
| Counting Putts | There is no standard method for counting putts. In USGA Championships, the player has made their first putt once they have made a stroke from the putting green, and all subsequent strokes are counted as putts. |
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What You'll Learn
Putt-putt vs mini golf
Putt-putt and mini golf are often used interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different games. Both are miniaturised versions of regular golf, with the aim being to get the ball in the hole with as few strokes as possible. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Mini golf is a simplified version of golf, played on a smaller course. It is designed to be accessible and fun for all ages and skill levels. The courses are often themed and decorated, with obstacles such as hills, water hazards, sand traps, and terrain obstacles. The par score for each hole can range from 2 to 6, and the player with the fewest points at the end of the game wins. The game is played in the same way as golf, with each player taking their first stroke, and then the player furthest from the hole taking their second putt.
Putt-putt, on the other hand, is a less traditional branch of golf. It is typically played on a course that is even smaller than a mini golf course, with a maximum par of 2 for each hole. The obstacles are usually simpler and more limited, such as small hills, small slopes, pipes, or rails. Most of the holes are designed to be completed in one or two straight putts, making the game faster and less challenging. Putt-putt courses typically have a more standardised design, with fewer gimmicks and themes. The game is played sequentially, with the first player completing the hole before the next player can take their turn.
Putt-putt was trademarked and popularised by Don Clayton in the 1950s as a specific version of mini golf with a focus on skill and player improvement. The name comes from the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was founded in 1954. While putt-putt courses traditionally have a more simplistic design, in recent years they have started incorporating themes and gimmicks, such as caves, foliage, and plaster animals.
In summary, the main differences between mini golf and putt-putt lie in the course design, obstacles, scoring system, and rules of play. Mini golf courses tend to be more challenging and varied, with a wider range of obstacles and par scores. Putt-putt courses, on the other hand, are generally simpler, more standardised, and focused on achieving hole-in-ones. The games are also played in a slightly different sequence, with mini golf allowing all players to take their first stroke before moving on to the next hole, while putt-putt is played sequentially, with each player completing the hole before the next player takes their turn.
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How to putt
To putt is to hit a golf ball gently with a club, usually when you're close to the hole. The aim is to get the ball into the hole or as near to it as possible. The stroke is generally gentle, and the ball should roll rather than arc through the air.
When putting, it's important to consider the distance between your ball and the hole. This will determine how hard you need to hit the ball. If you're far from the hole, you'll need to putt more firmly than if you're closer.
Start by standing next to your ball and aligning your putter with the ball and the hole. You may need to adjust your stance to get the right angle. Once you're in position, take a few practice swings to get a feel for the weight and speed of your putter.
When you're ready to putt, take a deep breath and focus on your target. Keep your eye on the ball and swing your putter back smoothly. Make sure your arms and body move as one unit. Follow through with your swing, keeping your head still, and aim to make contact with the ball with a gentle, upward stroke.
If you're putting from far away, you may need to putt again after your first stroke. This is called a "second putt". Each subsequent stroke after the first putt is counted as a putt.
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Counting putts
To putt is to hit a golf ball gently with a club, usually when one is close to the hole. Golfers use a special club called a putter when they are ready to putt. The distance between the ball and the hole determines how one putts, but the stroke is generally gentle, intended to get the ball on the green or into the hole. Unlike other golf strokes that send the ball soaring through the air, a putt is meant to simply make the ball roll.
There are different ways to count putts. Some count only strokes made on the green, while others count any shot with a putter. Some sources say that a putt is the first shot made on the putting green and every shot after. This includes if the player putts off the green, has to wedge out of the trap, and then starts putting again. The reasoning is that counting putts this way determines a player's effectiveness on the putting surface as well as their performance from tee to green. However, a putt" from the fringe is typically not counted as a putt but as a chip, even if a putter is used.
The Rules of Golf do not address how statistics are kept. In USGA Championships where putts are counted, the player has made their first putt once they have made a stroke from the putting green, and all subsequent strokes are counted as putts. It is up to the committee in charge of the event to determine how putts will be counted and the method used for counting.
Some golfers keep track of their putts to determine their effectiveness on the putting surface as well as their performance from tee to green. They may also use the number of putts to calculate GIRs (Green In Regulation). This is a statistic that indicates whether a golfer reached the green in the expected number of strokes or better.
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The putter
To putt is to hit a golf ball gently with a club, usually when you're close to the hole. The club used for putting is called a putter. The putter is a special club used to gently stroke the ball, usually on a putting green, to get it to roll into or near the hole. The distance between the ball and the hole determines how the putt is executed.
Putters come in various styles, including blade and mallet putters. Blade putters have a slim, traditional design, while mallet putters feature a larger, more stable head with enhanced alignment aids. Each golfer may have their own preference for putter style, grip type, and other specifications to optimise their performance on the green.
In addition to the traditional putter, there are also long putters, which are longer than standard putters and can be chest or chin height. Long putters are designed to be anchored against the golfer's body during the stroke, offering an alternative putting style.
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The history of the word 'putt'
The word "putt" in golf means to hit a golf ball gently with a club, usually when the ball is close to the hole. The ball is not meant to fly through the air but to simply roll into or near the hole. The word "putt" is derived from the Scots word "putt", which means "to put", and originally meant "to shove" or "to push". It is also comparable to the Middle Dutch word "putten", meaning "to dig a pit", and the Proto-Germanic "*putōną". The Old English "putian", meaning "to push, thrust, put, or place", is a common but no longer valid assumption for the origin of the word.
The golf meaning of the word "putt" was adopted in 1743. The word was used in a description of golf in an early 17th-century edition of Pieter van Afferden's "Tyrocinium linguae latinae". In this context, "to putt" means to lightly strike a golf ball with a putter. A putter is a special club used by golfers when they are ready to putt.
There is some dispute over which shots count as putts. Some sources state that a putt is any shot made on the green, while others say it is any shot made with a putter. According to the Rules of Golf, the method for counting putts is determined by the committee in charge of the event. However, it is generally agreed that the first putt is the player's first stroke made on the putting green, and all subsequent strokes are also counted as putts.
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Frequently asked questions
Putt golf, or mini golf, is a fun, family-friendly version of regular golf. The primary goal is to get your ball into the hole with as few strokes of your putter as possible.
To putt is to hit a golf ball softly with a club, usually when you're close to the hole. The distance between your golf ball and the hole determines how you putt, but the stroke is generally gentle, intended to get the ball on the green or into the hole.
Putt-putt is a type of mini golf that originated in a place called the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Fayetteville, NC, in 1954. The owner, Don Clayton, copyrighted the name and ensured that all his courses and centers followed high-quality standards. While the gameplay is similar to mini golf, putt-putt courses usually have very minimal, basic obstacles such as small hills or sandpits.
The Rules of Golf do not address how putts are counted. It is up to the committee in charge of the event to determine the method used for counting. However, a putt generally refers to the first shot made on the putting green and all subsequent strokes.
