Nina Caldwell
The origin of miniature golf is a topic of debate. Some sources claim that the game was invented in the late 1800s in Scotland, where the first miniature golf course was created in the backyard of a private home. Others argue that it emerged in the early 20th century, with the first standardized minigolf courses appearing in 1916 in North Carolina and gaining popularity across the United States in the 1920s. The game provided an inexpensive and accessible form of entertainment during the Great Depression, leading to the creation of unique, creatively designed courses using locally available materials. The sport continued to evolve with the introduction of glow-in-the-dark courses in Scandinavia and the addition of obstacles and challenges by Don Clayton in the 1950s, solidifying its status as a beloved pastime worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of origin | Late 1800s |
| Place of origin | Scotland |
| Inventors | Scots |
| First course | Thistle Dhu, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 1916/1917 |
| First patent | Tom Thumb Golf, Garnet Carter, Chattanooga, TN, late 1920s |
| First mass-produced course | Tom Thumb, Garnet Carter, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, 1927 |
| First minigolf boom | 1920s-1930s |
| First miniature golf course in Canada | Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, 1930 |
| First minigolf course in mainland Europe | Hamburg, Germany, 1926 |
| First minigolf course in Sweden | 1931 |
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What You'll Learn
The first mini golf course
The exact origins of mini golf are up for debate. However, the game is believed to have originated in Scotland as early as the late 1800s, with the Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews, established in 1827 or 1867, being one of the earliest known mini golf courses. The game was also played in backyards in Scotland during this time.
The first dedicated mini golf course in the United States was created in 1916 or 1917 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, by British shipping magnate James Wells Barber. The course, called "Thistle Dhu" ("This'll Do"), was a tiny 18-hole course built on Barber's estate. It featured natural and artificial obstacles, as well as architectural and landscape flourishes that would influence later miniature golf courses.
During the early 20th century, as mini golf grew in popularity, people without backyards or enough space for a course began building them on rooftops. By the early 1920s, this trend had spread across America, and by 1926, there were hundreds of rooftop golf courses across the country.
In the late 1920s, Garnet Carter, a hotel owner from Georgia, created his own miniature golf course designs with his wife, Frieda. Their course, called "Tom Thumb Golf", was described as a ""whimsical version of golf" on a much smaller scale. It featured fairy-tale-themed architecture and was filled with gnomes. The couple converted a 700-acre mountain property into what would eventually become Rock City Gardens, a popular attraction that remains one of the most visited in the region today.
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Rooftop courses
Mini golf, also known as minigolf, crazy golf, putt-putt, and various other names, is a widely popular offshoot of golf, focusing on the putting aspect of the game. The aim is to score the lowest number of points, with the game being played on a series of holes, usually a multiple of 9, that are short in length, typically under 10 meters.
The game has its roots in Scotland, with the Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews, established in 1827, being one of the earliest known mini golf courses. However, the game as we know it today, with its artificial putting surfaces and obstacles, began to take shape in the early 20th century. As the game grew in popularity, people without backyards or enough space started building courses on rooftops in the early 1920s. By 1926, there were hundreds of rooftop mini golf courses across the United States, particularly in New York City, with approximately 150 courses.
The Great Depression of the late 1930s brought about a change, as most minigolf courses became too expensive to maintain. However, this led to the creation of innovative "rinkie-dink" courses, where obstacles were crafted from locally available materials, including tires, rain gutters, and pipes. These unique designs caught on, and by the early 1930s, about 25% of the miniature golf courses in the U.S. were Tom Thumb-patented designs, featuring similar obstacles.
The game continued to evolve, and by the early 1940s, brothers Joseph and Robert Taylor from New York were building and operating their own miniature golf courses, which included landscaping and obstacles such as windmills and castles. Their courses gained popularity, leading to the formation of Taylor Brothers, a company specializing in building mini golf courses. During World War II, the U.S. Military even contracted the company to build prefabricated courses for G.I.s serving overseas.
In the 1950s, Don Clayton revolutionized the game once again by introducing shorter holes that rewarded skilled players with holes-in-one. He achieved this by incorporating metal rails to facilitate precise rebounds, encouraging unique gameplay. Clayton's company successfully promoted this new design, and it soon gained traction around the globe.
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Post-WWI popularity
The popularity of mini-golf in the post-World War I era was influenced by a combination of societal and economic factors. The game offered an accessible and inexpensive form of entertainment during a period marked by economic constraints and social transformations.
Post-WWI Social Landscape
In the aftermath of World War I, society underwent significant changes. Women, for example, had played a pivotal role during the war, challenging traditional gender norms. This momentum carried over into the post-war era, and women continued to seek greater participation in sports and other aspects of public life. Mini golf, with its roots in women's putting clubs in Scotland as early as 1827 or 1867, offered a more inclusive and accessible alternative to traditional golf, which had often excluded women.
Economic Factors and Innovation
The economic landscape of the post-World War I period was characterised by the Great Depression, which brought financial hardship and limited access to resources. Players couldn't afford to build or access premium golf courses. However, their enthusiasm for the game remained undeterred. People tapped into their creativity, using locally available materials to construct unique mini-golf courses on rooftops and in backyards. This do-it-yourself approach gave birth to ingenious designs with unconventional obstacles, adding a unique character to the game.
American Mini Golf Boom
The 1920s and 1930s witnessed an American mini-golf boom. Standardised mini-golf courses entered commercial mass production, with the Thistle Dhu course in Pinehurst, North Carolina, in 1916, and the Tom Thumb patent by Garnet Carter from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee in 1927. Thomas McCullough Fairbairn's formulation of an artificial green in 1922 further revolutionised the game, making it accessible everywhere. By the late 1920s, there were over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone, and tens of thousands across the United States.
International Spread
The mini-golf craze that swept across the United States inspired its spread to other parts of the world. In 1926, a man named Schröder built one of the first documented mini-golf courses in mainland Europe in Hamburg, Germany, after drawing inspiration from his visit to the United States. In 1930, Edwin O. Norrman and Eskil Norman returned to Sweden from the United States, where they had witnessed the golden days of the American mini-golf boom. They founded the company "Norman och Norrmans Miniatyrgolf" and began manufacturing standardised mini-golf courses for the Swedish market.
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The Great Depression
Mini-golf, which had gained momentum in the 1920s due to its accessibility and whimsical nature, became an affordable pastime for Americans grappling with the harsh realities of the Great Depression. With people unable to afford building quality mini-golf courses, they turned to locally available materials to construct courses in their neighbourhoods and communities. These makeshift courses featured innovative obstacles and enhancements, fostering a sense of creativity and competition.
The inexpensive nature of the game provided a much-needed escape from the grim realities of the time, allowing people to mimic the wealthy and even offering an opportunity to make some money. It attracted players from all backgrounds, including Black golfers, who had a long history with the sport, first as enslaved caddies and then at segregated clubs. The popularity of the sport during the Great Depression is evident from the fact that by 1930, there were over 150 mini-golf courses in New York City alone, and tens of thousands across the United States.
However, the American mini-golf boom eventually came to an end during the late 1930s. The economic hardships of the Great Depression led to the closure and demolition of most mini-golf courses in the country. By the early 1940s, only a handful of courses remained, and the sport had largely died out as a competition in the United States. It would take several decades for mini-golf to recover and regain its popularity.
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Modern mini golf
Mini golf has come a long way since its early days in Scotland. With advancements in technology and course design, the game has transitioned into a more immersive and high-tech experience. One of the key developments has been the emergence of indoor courses, often found within family entertainment centres. These indoor courses have helped mini golf reach a broader audience and stay relevant by incorporating themes from pop culture, such as movies, sports, and video games.
The game has also evolved in terms of its playing surface. In the early 20th century, geometrically shaped courses made of artificial materials, such as carpet, began to emerge. Thomas McCullough Fairbairn revolutionized the game in 1922 with his formulation of an artificial green made from a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil, and dye. This discovery made miniature golf accessible to people everywhere, as it could be installed both indoors and outdoors.
Another significant development in modern mini golf is the addition of unique obstacles and challenges. In the 1930s, new obstacles such as windmills, castles, and wishing wells were introduced, adding a layer of complexity to the game. Don Clayton further revolutionized the game in 1953 by designing shorter holes that allowed skilled players to achieve holes-in-one. He achieved this by incorporating metal rails to facilitate precise rebounds and promote unique gameplay.
Today, mini golf is enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide and has even spawned into a competitive sport, with professional players, organized tournaments, and creative course designs. It has come a long way since its rudimentary beginnings, continuing to innovate and engage players with its unique, fun-filled approach to the game of golf.
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Frequently asked questions
The origins of mini golf are disputed. Some sources say it was invented in Scotland in the late 1800s, while others claim it was invented in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the 1920s.
The Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews, established in 1827 (or 1867 according to another source), is one of the earliest known mini golf courses. There are also suggestions of similar games being played in China between 937 and 975 AD.
In the late 1920s, Garnet Carter, one of the founders of Rock City on Lookout Mountain, patented what he called "Tom Thumb Golf". This was a ""whimsical version of golf" on a much smaller scale.
The earliest documented mention of a mini golf course is in the 8 June 1912 edition of *The Illustrated London News*, which introduces a minigolf course called the Gofstacle.
The first known mini golf course in the US was constructed by James Barber in North Carolina in 1916 or 1917. It was called Thistle Dhu ("This'll Do") and was an 18-hole course.
