Putt Putt Near Me

Whether you call it putt putt or mini-golf, few activities are as cost effective and rewarding as a few hours spent on your local course. Fun for all ages, mini-golf isn’t difficult or strenuous. In fact, it can be a great way to bond the family without having to sit in a movie theater or partaking in an equally inactive family game.

Are you interested in finding a putt putt course near you? Have no fear! Simply browse putt putt near me on the map below and find a list of putt putt courses near you. Need a bit more information on putt putt? Read on for interesting facts, trivia, and more on this interesting and wacky sport!

Putt Putt Near Me – Find it on the Map

Putt Putt Near Me – Putt Putt Trivia

Where is the oldest putt putt course in existence located?

To the untrained mini-golf historian, putt putt may seem like a wholly American invention that came about within the last 60 years. Strangely enough, the oldest mini golf course can actually be found in Scotland. The Ladies’ Putting Club of St. Andrews was first officially formed in 1867 as the first members only green for female golfers. The club was the result of the idea that it would be improper for a woman to “swing the club back past their shoulder.” Dated, yes, but a part of the history of golf. This early course may not have had a giant windmill or a sand bar, but the green was and still remains one of the best miniature golf courses in the world. All of the earliest miniature golf courses were swept under a few broad categories including the “regulation par-3,” “the executive,” and the “pitch and putt.” All of them required individuals to use a short driver along with a putter and kept to a simple design of sand traps, hills, ponds, and trees to add both difficulty and interest to the course. As you search putt putt near me, consider just how wild the early history of this activity truly is!

Mini golf courses range from very challenging and ornate to very simple.

When did putt putt courses get more complicated?

Nowadays, mini golf courses contain everything from giant elephants and windmills, to crazy topiaries meant to distract and challenge. When did putt putt courses first get so complicated? According to historians, it all began in 1916 when James Barber designed a mini golf course in North Carolina known as the “Thistle Dhu.” The course was compact and featured a pretty classical design that included, geometric walkway patterns, beautiful gardens, and massive fountains. This is far from the zany courses we know today, but small steps can lead to giant leaps. By 1926, innovative designers were creating miniature golf courses on the rooftops of New York City skyscrapers. By the end of the decade, more than 150 rooftop golf courses existed in New York City alone. Today, you may still find a few roof top courses in some of the bigger cities, but many areas have taken a more traditional route. As you search putt putt near me, consider the history of your local golf course? Where did it begin and just how far will it go?

Putt Putt Near Me – Putt Putt Facts

Rinkie Dink Courses

The Great Depression challenged Americans in a variety of ways, including mini-golf. When the depression first came about, regulation mini-golf courses were far too expensive for most individuals to afford. With this, “rinkie-dink” courses began to spring up. These courses were far from conventional and often included obstacles that could be scrounged from junk yards and anything else that could be found lying around. Common obstacles found on these courses included, tires, rain gutters, barrels, and pipes. Eventually these crazy obstacles grew in popularity and became a regular staple on golf courses all over the United States. In the present day, many individuals appreciate a golf course that is truly off the rails in terms of obstacles and decor. The first mini-golf franchise came in 1929 with Tom Thumb Golf. In the early 1930s, around 25% of all operating mini-golf courses included the patented Tom Thumb mini golf designs. Building upon the popularity of rinkie-dink courses, the Tom Thumb design featured similar types of hazards that were all built by workers in their very own “fantasy factory.” By the end of the 1930s, it is believed that more than 4 million people in the US were regular participating in mini golf. Consider just how many people might be searching putt putt near me right this very minute!

Country Club Style Courses

One thing you may find while searching putt putt near me is that not every mini-golf course still boasts the zany decor of the 1930s. In fact, many courses have taken to adopting a country club style. Toward the end of the 1990s, country club style mini golf courses were becoming a big trend thanks to the interest of well known golfers such as Jack Nicklaus. Today, miniature golf competitions take place all over the world and are typically held on country club courses that mimic famous greens often played on by professional golfers. These mini courses feature the same sand and water traps as their larger counterparts. Typically these competition courses don’t include windmills or castles and require the skilled shot of a true golf aficionado.