Trevor Ng
Miniature golf, also known as mini-golf, crazy golf, putt-putt, and by several other names, is a widely popular offshoot of the sport of golf. The game involves focusing on the putting aspect of golf and is played on a course consisting of a series of holes. The first miniature golf course was constructed in the backyard of James Wells Barber in North Carolina in 1916. However, the origins of the game can be traced back to the late 19th century when women, who were banned from playing golf with men, created their own course in St Andrews, Scotland. Miniature golf gained massive popularity in America during the early 20th century and continues to be a well-loved sport today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Miniature golf's early origins | Europe |
| Miniature golf's popularity in America | Early 20th century |
| The first miniature golf course in Canada | Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, Quebec |
| The first miniature golf course in the US | Thistle Dhu, Pinehurst, North Carolina, in 1916 |
| Creator of the first miniature golf course in the US | James Wells Barber |
| Miniature golf course with natural and artificial obstacles | Thistle Dhu |
| Miniature golf course with a focus on skill and player improvement | Putt-Putt, Don Clayton, 1950s |
| Miniature golf course with shorter holes | Don Clayton, 1953 |
| Miniature golf as a competitive sport | Yes |
| Worldwide Miniature Golf Day | September 21 |
| National Mini Golf Day | Second Saturday in May |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The St Andrews golf course in Scotland
Miniature golf, also known as mini-golf, midget golf, crazy golf, and putt-putt, is a smaller-scale version of the traditional game of golf, focusing on the putting aspect. The aim is to complete the course in the fewest possible shots, with the lowest score being the best. The courses are usually a multiple of 9 holes and are characterised by their short length, usually within 10 metres from tee to cup. The game uses artificial putting surfaces, such as carpet or artificial turf, and often features obstacles such as tunnels, ramps, and walls.
While the exact inventor of miniature golf remains unknown, the game is believed to have originated in the backyards of Scotland. One of the earliest known miniature golf courses was created by James Barber in North Carolina in 1916, known as the Thistle Dhu ("This'll Do") course. This course, along with the 1927 Tom Thumb patent by Garnet Carter, marked the beginning of commercial mass-production of miniature golf courses. Thomas McCullough Fairbairn further revolutionised the game in 1922 with his creation of an artificial green made from cottonseed hulls, sand, oil, and dye, making it possible to set up courses anywhere.
The St Andrews golf course is a testament to the enduring legacy of the game and its Scottish origins. It showcases the early iterations of the game, which have since evolved into the highly creative and engaging courses seen today. The course design, though simpler compared to modern standards, laid the foundation for the strategic and challenging aspects of the game.
The St Andrews course, along with other early courses, contributed to the spread of miniature golf across the United States and Europe. By the late 1920s, the American mini-golf boom was in full swing, with over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone. This era saw the emergence of innovative designs, with unconventional obstacles that added a unique character to the game. The game's popularity continued to grow, and it soon became a beloved pastime for people of all ages worldwide.
Golf Spikes: Replacing and Choosing the Right Ones
You may want to see also
Explore related products
James Wells Barber and Thistle Dhu
James Wells Barber, an Englishman born in 1852, was an avid golfer and the creator of one of the first mini-golf courses in the world. He founded the shipping company Barber and Co. with his brother in 1886, relocating to the United States a year later to manage their growing empire. By 1917, the company had evolved into the Barber Steamship Lines of New York, with trading routes across the world.
Barber's wealth allowed him to indulge in his passion for golf at the fashionable Pinehurst resort in North Carolina, where he moved in 1916. He built a mansion named Cedarcrest, large enough to accommodate his wife and seven children. However, in 1919, he constructed an even more extravagant home, initially called Mrs. Barber's House, and later renamed Thistle Dhu, inspired by the phrase "this will do." The phrase is believed to have originated from either Barber or Edward H. Wiswell, an amateur golfer and architect who designed the miniature golf course in the garden of Barber's estate.
Thistle Dhu, covering almost 2 acres, was an 18-hole miniature golf course built for experienced golfers, featuring holes with names like "Sandy Hook" and "Bunker Hill." It was not intended as a new pastime but rather as a small golf course for entertainment. The course gained recognition through write-ups and photographs in magazines and newspapers, sparking the miniature golf craze that swept America in the 1920s and 1930s.
The impact of Thistle Dhu extended beyond its immediate popularity, as it inspired the creation of thousands of similar courses during the miniature golf boom. By the late 1920s, there were over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone, and tens of thousands across the United States. The course's influence was such that when the Pinehurst Resort opened a new putting course in 2012, they named it "Thistle Dhu," paying homage to the pioneering creation of James Wells Barber over a century earlier.
Golf Season: The Long and Short of It
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Don Clayton and Putt-Putt
Don Clayton, a 28-year-old insurance salesman from Fayetteville, North Carolina, is credited with breathing new life into miniature golf courses by introducing shorter holes that rewarded skilled players with holes-in-one. Clayton's doctor had ordered him to take a month off from work in 1954 due to concerns about his mental health. Instead of resting, Clayton, along with his father, decided to build his own public miniature golf course, spending $5,200 on an 18-hole course and charging 25 cents per game.
Clayton's course, which he named Putt-Putt, was designed with geometric precision to test and reward the skills demanded of expert putters on the professional tour. Each of the 18 par-2 holes was plotted out and copyrighted, utilising outdoor carpet and aluminium bump boards. The bump boards allowed players to lower their score if they banked a shot off the board at the correct angle.
Putt-Putt's popularity grew quickly, and by 1955, there were eight locations. By 1957, this number had increased to 106, and Clayton began selling franchises, allowing the company to expand across the United States and internationally. By 1994, there were over 400 Putt-Putt locations in six countries.
Clayton's Putt-Putt introduced a branded, "no-frills, all-skills" miniature golf concept, emphasising skill and player improvement. The standardised holes, constructed of smooth concrete and covered with short-nap outdoor carpet, ensured consistent holes and skilled play. Clayton formed the Professional Putters Association, which only competes on franchise courses, further emphasising the focus on skill and competition.
Today, Putt-Putt Fun Centers offer a variety of entertainment options beyond miniature golf, including batting cages, arcades, laser tag, go-karts, and bumper boats, adapting to the changing tastes and demands of their customers.
Golf at the Olympics: How is it Scored?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Garnet Carter and Tom Thumb Golf
John Garnet Carter, an American inventor and entrepreneur, is considered one of the fathers of miniature golf. In 1927, Carter became the first to patent a version of miniature golf, which he called "Tom Thumb Golf". The course was built on Lookout Mountain in Georgia, where Carter owned a hotel.
Carter's course was unique compared to the miniaturized versions of real golf that existed at the time. While previous designs focused on scaling down the golf experience, Carter's course featured natural grass, along with creative additions like pieces of tile, sewer pipe, hollow logs, and other obstacles. He also included whimsical decorations, such as fairyland statues, giving his course a whimsical and entertaining twist.
The public response to Carter's miniature golf course was overwhelmingly positive. Within a few years, thousands of Tom Thumb courses opened across the United States. Carter's innovation franchised and took off, with over 25,000 mini-golf courses in the country by August 1930, as reported by The New York Times. This miniature golf craze in the 1930s was short-lived, however, as the fad faded by the end of the decade.
Carter's inspiration for Tom Thumb Golf came from his desire to entertain the guests at his inn. The name "Tom Thumb" aligned with this theme of providing a fun and whimsical experience for his patrons. Some accounts suggest that Carter built the course to occupy regular golfers while the main course was being completed or to specifically entertain the children of his guests.
Golf Lessons: Taxable in Minnesota?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The rise of miniature golf in the US
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, putt-putt, crazy golf, and by several other names, is a smaller, more accessible version of the traditional sport of golf. It focuses solely on the putting aspect of the game and is played on a course consisting of a series of holes, usually a multiple of 9, with each hole having a short length, typically within 10 metres from tee to cup. The game is characterised by its use of artificial putting surfaces and obstacles, such as tunnels, tubes, ramps, and walls.
In the mid-1920s, Garnet Carter, a hotel owner from Georgia, created his version of miniature golf, which he called "Tom Thumb Golf". These courses could be installed indoors or outdoors and required only 2,100 square feet of space. The courses featured whimsical designs with gnomes and other fairy-tale themes, appealing to a wide range of players. By the end of the 1930s, there were as many as 50,000 miniature golf attractions across the nation. During this time, miniature golf provided a more inclusive alternative to traditional golf, which was often restricted to elite white men. The miniature golf course at East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., for example, was one of the city's first public recreation facilities to be desegregated.
The Great Depression in the late 1930s brought a halt to the miniature golf boom in the US. Most courses were closed or demolished, and the industry struggled to recover. However, in the years following World War II, miniature golf experienced a resurgence. In the 1950s, Don Clayton, the inventor of the Putt-Putt brand, introduced shorter holes that rewarded skilled players with holes-in-one. Clayton's courses emphasised skill and player improvement, incorporating metal rails to facilitate precision bounces and promote unique gameplay. This innovation, along with the introduction of mechanical obstacles such as rotating ramps, flashing lights, and windmills, attracted a new generation of players and contributed to the global popularity of the game.
Today, miniature golf continues to be a popular activity in the US, with advancements in technology and course design enhancing the player experience. Indoor courses, glow-in-the-dark themes, and immersive high-tech features have further elevated the sport's appeal. Miniature golf has also evolved into a competitive sport, with professional players, organised tournaments, and creative course designs.
Mastering the Compact Backswing in Golf
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The invention of miniature golf is not attributed to a single person. However, the first miniature golf course in the US was constructed by James Wells Barber in North Carolina in 1916 or 1917.
The first miniature golf course in the US was called "Thistle Dhu" (This'll Do).
The first miniature golf course in Canada was at the Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. The course was constructed in the 1890s as a summer home, renovated into a club in 1902, opened to the public in 1914, and had a miniature golf course added in 1930.
One of the first documented miniature golf courses in mainland Europe was built in 1926 by a man surnamed Schröder in Hamburg, Germany.
Don Clayton invented the Putt-Putt brand in the 1950s with a focus on treating miniature golf seriously and emphasising skill and player improvement.
