who invented miniature golf

Who designed the first mini-golf course?

However, Garnet Carter of Tennessee generally gets the credit for the first public mini-golf course, which he called Tom Thumb Golf. He built the course on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee to draw customers to his hotel. His wife, Frieda Carter, did much of the design of the course, which had a fairyland theme.

What is miniature golf?

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, miniature golf is a novelty version of golf played with a putter and golf ball on a miniature course and featuring obstacles such as alleys, bridges, and tunnels. Garnet Carter was the first person to patent a game of miniature golf which he called "Tom Thumb Golf" in 1927.

When did mini golf become popular in America?

With this discovery, miniature golf became 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. This American minigolf boom of early 20th century came to an end during the economic depression in the late 1930s.

Is mini golf an Olympic sport?

Europe, North America, Japan. Olympic. No. World Games. 1989 (invitational) Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, mini-putt, goofy golf, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of its parent game. The aim of the game is to score the lowest number of points.

What is the origin of mini golf?

Experts say evidence of mini golf can actually be traced back to China between the years of 937 and 975 A.D. Meanwhile, Dutch historians swear the sport originated in Denmark around 1297.

Was mini golf invented in Tennessee?

As early as 1916, at least one miniature golf course had been developed in the United States. It was called the Thistle Dhu (This'll Do) course in Pinehurst, N.C. Tennessee, however, can lay claim to being the "birthplace of miniature golf" because one if its most famous residents was the first to patent the game.

Where was mini golf patented?

Lookout MountainMiniature golf was first patented by Garnet Carter (1883-1954) in 1931. Carter owned a hotel called the Fairyland Inn on Lookout Mountain (Georgia) near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

What state had the first miniature golf course?

North CarolinaNorth Carolina: The first miniature golf course in the USA was built in 1916 on the estate of steamship magnate James Barber in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Nearly 100 years later, Pinehurst Resort has built its own 18-hole putting course, named after the original – Thistle Dhu.

Is mini golf an American thing?

The first recorded game of mini golf was in Scotland. The first American mini golf course opened in Pinehurst, North Carolina in 1961. Glow-in-the-dark mini golf was invented in Scandinavia because of their long nights and short days.

Who invented golf?

Charles Blair MacDonald, who attended St. Andrews University and learned the game at the St. Andrews Golf Links, is considered the father of American golf course architects. In 1893, MacDonald built the Chicago Golf Club, which was the country's first 18-hole course.

What is another name for mini golf?

Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, mini-putt, goofy golf, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of its parent game.

What is the oldest mini golf course in the world?

Whispering Pines Miniature Golf CourseWhispering Pines Miniature Golf Course holds the world record for oldest golf course that is still in use (since 1930). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Why is mini golf so popular?

Mini golf has been around for over 100 years, and today, the game is as popular as ever. It's one of the most time-tested entertainment attractions and it's a proven social experience that brings people together. Perhaps most importantly, mini golf has always been a game that people of all ages could play.

Where is the largest mini golf course in the world?

Fantasia Fairways was voted the longest and most challenging mini golf course in the world by Golf Digest. Par is 72 for the fairways course....Fantasia Gardens.Club informationLength18 holes11 more rows

What is the difference between crazy golf and mini golf?

Crazy golf is a type of mini golf. In crazy golf the holes are found within the hills, mounds and slopes and players have to aim their strokes through these holes. Crazy golf has become very popular with some quite serious competition including tournaments with the World Crazies Championship being the major game.

What are fails in mini golf?

fails, a number. reach, which is in inches. played golf, a number of years. Rob's opinion, a phrase or sentence attributed to co-host Rob Riggle.

Who was the first person to play miniature golf?

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.

When did mini golf start?

The first standardized minigolf courses to enter commercial mass-production were the Thistle Dhu ("This'll Do") course 1916 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and the 1927 Tom Thumb patent of Garnet Carter from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Thomas McCullough 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 and tens of thousands across the United States. This American minigolf boom of early 20th century came to an end during the economic depression in the late 1930s. Nearly all minigolf courses in the United States were closed and demolished before the end of the 1930s. A rare surviving example from this period is the Parkside Whispering Pines Miniature Golf Course located near Rochester, New York, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

What are the most prestigious minigolf tournaments?

The most prestigious MOS minigolf competitions in the world are the US Masters, US Open, British Open, World Crazy Golf Championships and the World Adventure Golf Masters.

What is the name of the game of mini golf?

The name Putt-Putt is the trademark of an American company that builds and franchises miniature golf courses in addition to other family-oriented entertainment, and the term "putt-putt" is sometimes used colloquially to refer to the game itself. The term "minigolf" was formerly a registered trademark of a Swedish company that built its own patented type of minigolf courses.

What is glow in the dark golf?

There are also a variety of portable miniature golf fairways or 'tracks' that can be set up as (JM Ents) temporary courses indoors or outdoors. The fairways are usually constructed of wooden or glass fibre frames. Portable fairways are often used for summer festivals and fairs, corporate events, team-building events, and product launches.

What is the book "Tilting at Windmills" about?

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 .

What is the putting surface used in miniature golf?

The game uses artificial putting surfaces (such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete), a geometric layout often requiring non-traditional putting lines such as bank shots, and artificial obstacles such as tunnels, tubes, ramps, moving obstacles such as windmills, and walls of concrete, metal, or fiberglass. When miniature golf retains many of these characteristics but without the use of any props or obstacles, it is purely a mini version of its parent game.

Who invented miniature golf?

Then, around 1916, a man named James Barber developed a miniature golf course in North Carolina called "Thistle Dhu.".

What were the materials used in mini golf courses during the Great Depression?

So smaller mini-golf courses started popping up with scrounged-up materials, like old rain pipes, tires and barrels, for obstacles. These crazy makeshift items started becoming regular features in mini-golf courses all around the country.

How many holes are there in mini golf?

A fun family outing, a unique date or a beach vacation tradition, miniature golf (or mini-golf) is 18 holes of silly obstacles, ramps and rails. It's almost like a cartoon version of regular golf. Who would come up with such an idea?

Where did the hole in one golf start?

Some say it started in Scotland; some say it started in North Carolina. If we're talking time period alone, Scotland wins the hole-in-one. Back in 1867, a group of women formed the Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrews as a response to the belief of the day that golf was unladylike.

Where did people start putting courses?

Soon, people began building small putting courses on New York City rooftops. Once the Great Depression hit, though, most people couldn't afford to play golf. So smaller mini-golf courses started popping up with scrounged-up materials, like old rain pipes, tires and barrels, for obstacles.

Where did mini golf originate?

Most trace the origins of mini-golf in Europe to German Frederick Schroder, who constructed a course on his estate in 1926 after seeing courses on a trip to the United States. The Swedish developed an appreciation of the game, forming the first sporting association for mini-golf back in 1937.

Who built the first mini golf course?

However, Garnet Carter of Tennessee generally gets the credit for the first public mini-golf course, which he called Tom Thumb Golf. He built the course on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee to draw customers to his hotel. His wife, Frieda Carter, did much of the design of the course, which had a fairyland theme.

Where is mini golf played?

The international governing body for the sport – the World Minigolf Sport Federation – has its home in Goteborg, Sweden. So playing mini-golf now connects players to a long and rich history of a fun sport that remains popular both in the United States and Europe.

Can you rent a 9 hole golf course?

The game has reached such high popularity in the United States and Europe that almost every town has a course. And now people can rent their own courses from party rental companies such as Fun Crew USA, which offers a 9-Hole Portable Golf Course rental. The course features obstacles that make it very difficult to get that elusive hole in one.

Who designed the Tom Thumb course?

His wife, Frieda Carter, did much of the design of the course, which had a fairyland theme. By 1930, Carter had created the Fariyland Manufacturing Company and licensed 3,000 of his Tom Thumb courses all over the country.

Who built the golf course in Mexico?

Then, in 1922, Thomas McCulloch Fairborn , an Englishman, had a course built on his estate in Mexico. He used crushed cottonseed hulls mixed with oil and rolled onto a sand foundation for the course surface.

Is mini golf hard to master?

Many people play golf, a long and tough-to-master game that can lead to as much frustration as joy. Many, many more people play mini-golf, a fun game that is not tough to master, provides far more fun than frustration and features cool things like windmills and treehouses along the course. The game has reached such high popularity in ...

Where did mini golf originate?

World origins aside, the history of miniature golf in the United States is a bit easier to trace. For example, in the late 1920s, Garnet Carter opened a smaller version of his golf course just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. Interest in the sport soon skyrocketed, not only locally but across the nation. In fact, by 1930, the U.S. Commerce Department estimated there were 25,000 mini golf courses across the United States. While that number has admittedly shrunk through the years, miniature golf remains a great way to spend quality time with friends and loved ones.

Why is mini golf so popular?

For example, this outing makes for a perfect date night, casual vacation/entertainment option, and even a bonding experience with co-workers. Mini golf is appropriate for all ages, is affordable to all budgets, and practically guarantees fun and excitement.

Why do people play mini golf?

People love mini golf for a variety of reasons. It’s a family-friendly outing, great idea for a first date, and some businesses even use miniature golf as a team building activity. In fact, it’s likely you’ve played at least a few games in the past.

Is mini golf cost effective?

From a business standpoint, this venture is cost-effective and offers the potential for long-term growth. That’s because equipment purchase and maintenance is reasonable. Most mini golf operations are able to run smoothly with few staff members. In addition, when you choose an ideal location to build your course, you can benefit from year-round patronage.

Is miniature golf declining?

While, as discussed, the number of miniature golf courses around the country has declined, that’s not to say that popularity of the sport has. In fact, these days more people than ever are seeking affordable and enjoyable entertainment options that don’t require a huge time commitment.

Is mini golf a sport?

Miniature golf is an activity that’s increased in popularity over the past several years. But did you know that people have actually been enjoying mini golf for decades? Depending who you ask, some historians believe the history of the sport can even be traced back centuries.

How much did minigolf courses cost?

The average construction cost was $2000 to $3000 depending on extras. Often the courses would arrive packaged up with a blueprint ready to put it together. It took a week to assemble. The putting surfaces were made up of clay, sand, fibres, asbestos, ground seaweed and cork. In the 40s and 50s, goat hair felt became popular. Courses with clay surfaces favoured "Grassit" a green dye they could put on the putting surface.

Who invented crazy golf?

Professor Ling Hongling, of Lanzhou University, is said to have uncovered evidence of crazy golf (it can’t have been golf because the Scots invented that) being played in China in AD945 in the Dongxuan Records written during the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279). A prominent Chinese magistrate of the Nantang Dynasty (AD937-975) instructed his daughter "to dig holes in the ground so that he might knock a ball into them with a purposely crafted stick". The game described in the book is called chuiwan - chui meaning "to hit" and wan meaning "ball." 4

What was the slogan of the 1930 minigolf?

Many of the new courses had slogans to catch the public’s attention such as "a snappy course on a snappy site", "don't think it's simple, it's not." And "fun exercise in the sunshine, which means health and happiness!"

What do passersby see in golf?

As a Tom Thumb booklet explains, "passer bys see the course, they see people putting, they stop, they lean on the fence surrounding the course, they watch the ball as it travels towards the cup, they scream, they laugh, they are fascinated, they want to play, they do play, they laugh, they scream, they groan, at last they are playing golf."

Who wrote the putting guide?

Willie Park Jnr, who won the British Open Championships of 1887 and 1889, wrote a putting guide and even had a catchphrase "the man who can putt is a match for anyone." He called his putter-"old pawky" (which survives at Woking golf club.) Many subsequent golfers have given their putter an endearing name, normally ****ing piece of ****.

Who invented the game Gofstacle?

In 1912, a game called Gofstacle was advertised in The Illustrated London News. This was in fact the game of 'Golfstacle' as patented by William Senhouse Clarke in 1907, a British army Colonel. Who'd have thought it?

Who invented dice and knuckleball?

Herodotus noted that the Lydians invented dice and & knuckleball whilst suffering famine. In the straightened times of the American Depression, "Bread and Circuses" became "hotdogs and midget golf."

What is the history of mini golf?

The history of mini golf; inspired by the sport of golf, is a game enjoyed by people of all ages. It uses artificial structures such as carpet and concrete, and obstacles such as tunnels, ramps, windmills, concrete and metal walls.

Where did mini golf originate?

The origins of mini golf can be traced back to Scotland, The Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews, built in 1827 for women golfers.

What is a mini golf course?

Standardised mini golf courses became popular with the Thistle Dhu (which means This’ll Do) golf club in North Carolina and Tom Thumb golf club by Garnet Carter in Tennessee. Thistle Dhu courses comprised of concrete and pressed sand with fountains and gardens. The use of artificial green, which was a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil and dye made the construction of courses cheaper and more accessible. Soon after, golf courses on rooftops of buildings in New York started springing up.

What made golf courses cheaper?

The use of artificial green, which was a mixture of cottonseed hulls, sand, oil and dye made the construction of courses cheaper and more accessible. Soon after, golf courses on rooftops of buildings in New York started springing up.

Why is miniature golf important?

A miniature golf course can also provide you with a business opportunity, which is exciting to run and can be a fantastic return on investment.

How did the Great Depression affect golf?

The Great Depression changed the history of the golf course as it became expensive, and people turned to mini golf courses. The mini golf courses also started using cheaper alternatives such as obstacles like tires, barrels and old drain pipes.

Where did golf originate?

The modern game of golf is generally considered to be a Scottish invention. A spokesman for The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, one of the oldest Scottish golf organisations, said "Stick and ball games have been around for many centuries, but golf as we know it today, played over 18 holes, clearly originated in Scotland." The word golf, or in Scots gowf [gʌuf], is usually thought to be a Scots alteration of Dutch " colf " or " colve " meaning " stick, " club ", " bat ", itself related to the Proto-Germanic language *kulth- as found in Old Norse kolfr meaning " bell clapper", and the German Kolben meaning " mace or club". The Dutch term Kolven refers to a related sport where the lowest number of strokes needed to hit a ball with a mallet into a hole determines the winner; according to the "Le grand dictionnaire françois-flamen" printed 1643 is stated the Dutch term to Flemish: "Kolf, zest Kolve; Kolfdrager, Sergeant; Kolf, Kolp, Goulfe."

When was golf invented in Scotland?

The first documented mention of golf in Scotland appears in a 1457 Act of the Scottish Parliament, an edict issued by King James II of Scotland prohibiting the playing of the games of gowf and futball as these were a distraction from archery practice for military purposes.

How fast can a golf ball go?

These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second.

How did golf evolve?

The evolution of golf can be explained by the development of the equipment used to play the game. Some of the most notable advancements in the game of golf have come from the development of the golf ball. The golf ball took on many different forms before the 1930s when the United States Golf Association (USGA) set standards for weight and size. These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second. Since this time, the golf ball has continued to develop and impact the way the game is played.

When was the first round of kolf played?

In December 1650, the settlers of Fort Orange (near present-day Albany, New York) played the first recorded round of kolf (golf) in America. The Dutch settlers played kolf year round. During the spring, summer and fall it was played in fields. In the winter it was played on ice with the same rules.

What is the name of the game played in the Low Countries?

In the 1261 Middle Dutch manuscript of the Flemish poet Jacob van Maerlant 's Boeck Merlijn mention is made of a ball game "mit ener coluen" (with a colf/kolf [club]). This is the earliest known mention in the Dutch language of the game of colf/kolf as played in the Low Countries.

How many golf courses were built in Japan in 2009?

The 1987 Resort Law that reduced protection on agricultural land and forest preserves created a further boom in course construction and by 2009 there were over 2,400 courses. The popularity of golf in Japan also caused many golf resorts to be created across the Pacific Rim.

Overview

History

Nomenclature

Course types

Competitions

See also

External links