Miniature golf

Putt-Putt redirects here. For information about the video game character, see Putt-Putt (game character).

Miniature golf

Miniature golf, also known as mini-golf, minigolf, midget golf, goofy golf, or crazy golf is a game modelled after the sport of golf. The term Putt-Putt is a genericized trademark of a miniature golf company commonly used to describe the sport in general.

Origins

There are a variety of miniature golf courses, five of which are officially recognised: the most common of these are beton and eternit. As in golf, courses are commonly nine or eighteen holes long (or less commonly twelve) and the object is to hit the golf ball into the appropriate hole in the fewest strokes; however, in the miniature game, the holes are significantly shorter and consist of only a putting surface. The game is made challenging by an arrangement of obstacles, ramps, and bunkers. It is a popular pastime in many areas of the world, especially among families.

The first miniature golf course is often misattributed to one of two epochs:

• The 1916 backyard Thistle Dhu ("This'll Do") course in Pinehurst, North Carolina, or;
• The 1927 Tom Thumb patent of Garnet Carter from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee

Neither of these courses—though each revolutionary in its own right—was the true "first" miniature golf course. The Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrews, Scotland was the first miniature golf course, formed in 1867. Then, it was unacceptable for women to swing a club past their shoulders, so a miniature version of regulation golf was adapted for women to play.

Miniature golf rose to popularity in the late 1910s and early 1920s as a way for early golf fanatics to replicate major golf courses on a small scale. The game was commonly called "garden golf," and was played with a putter on grass. Thomas McCulloch Fairbairn, a golf fanatic, revolutionized the game in 1922 with his formulation of a suitable artificial green—a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil, and dye. With this discovery, miniature golf became accessible everywhere; by the late 1920s there were over 150 rooftop courses in New York City alone.

Mini golf amounted to a popular culture craze in the first years of the Depression but its popularity waned dramatically by 1935 or so.

Post-Depression

In 1938 Joe and Bob Taylor from Binghamton, New York started building and operating their own miniature golf courses. These courses differed from the ones in the late 20s and early 30s; they were no longer just rolls, banks, and curves, with an occasional pipe thrown in. Their courses not only had landscaping, but also obstacles, including windmills, castles, and wishing wells.

Impressed by the quality of the courses, many customers asked if the Taylors would build a course for them. By the early 1940s, Joe and Bob formed Taylor Brothers, and were in the business of building miniature golf courses and supplying obstacles to the industry. During both the Korean and Vietnam Wars many a G.I. played on a Taylor Brothers prefabricated course that the U.S. Military had contracted to be built and shipped overseas.

By the late 50s most—if not all—supply catalogs carried Taylor Brothers' obstacles. In 1961 Bob Taylor, Don Clayton of Putt-Putt, and Frank Abramoff of Arnold Palmer Miniature Golf organized the first miniature golf association known as NAPCOMS (or the "National Association of Putting Course Operators, Manufacturers, and Suppliers"). Their first meeting was held in New York City. Though this organization only lasted a few years it was the first attempt to bring miniature golf operators together to promote miniature golf.

In 1955, Lomma Enterprises, Inc., founded by Al Lomma and his brother Ralph Lomma, led the revival of wacky, animated trick hazards. These hazards required both accurately aimed shots and split-second timing to avoid spinning windmill blades, revolving statuary, and other careening obstacles.

The book Tilting At Windmills (How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Sport) by Andy Miller tells the story of the formerly sports-hating author attempting to change by competing in miniature golf, including events in Denmark and Latvia.

Competition is tight

Miniature golf is played at a highly competitive level in the United States and around the world. In the US there are two organizations offering tournaments at the professional level. The Professional Putters Association contest tournaments at Putt-Putt Golf Courses. The US Pro Mini-Golf Association (USPMGA)is the only mini golf sport organisation which represents USA in the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) and USPMGA is active WMF member since 1995. USPMGA President Robert Detwiler is also WMF representative for North and South Americas. USA minigolf team for World championships (which are organized in odd numbered years) is selected from USPMGA players in qualifying tournaments held on Team USA Training course located in North Myrtle Beach ,SC. USPMGA has USPMGA Pro Tour events held allover the continental US with the main National events: USPMGA US Open Minigolf Championship in May and USPMGA Master's National Minigolf Championship in Ocotber held in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Around the world, especially in Europe, competitive miniature golf is very popular. In Europe in even numbered years European championships are held where top National players compete for European Champion title in individual and team competiton. European Minigolf Sport Federation also organizes European Junior, Senior championships and Nations cup (prelude to European Minigolf Championship). Northen European countriea also have their own Nordic cups.

External links

• Pro Putters.com The official website of the Professional Putters Association
• Lists and Biographies of Champions and Hall of Fame Members of the Pro Putters Association and of the Amateur Putters Association
• US Pro Mini-Golf Association- official website of United States Pro Mini Golf Association
• Miniature Golf Courses by State
• "Lilli-putt-ian Landmarks" by Susan R. Chandler (PDF file)
• The Artistic History of Miniature Golf
• History of miniature golf
• The Putting Penguin - Miniature Golf Course review site, with courses from around the world
• Putt-Putt Golf Courses - Putt-Putt Golf Courses of America, Inc.
• WMF - World Minigolf Federation (WMF).
• The Mini Golf Enthusiast. A source of mini golf news, resources, and photo collections
• Team USA Minigolf Training Center