Indoor Mini Golf
Indoor mini golf is a fun family friendly activity for all. While indoor mini golf courses are smaller, this makes it much easier for newer players to get into, especially so for kids. Indoor mini golf is an amazing recreational activity compared to the more serious golf courses that require a large time commitment and kilometres of walking.
Outdoor Mini Golf
Outdoor mini golf is the next step up, and while still family friendly, is slightly more challenging. Outdoor mini golf courses are generally larger, allowing for a bigger and better course.
Still, outdoor miniature golf is no less popular because it is much easier to play than regular golf. In addition, the rules are pretty simple, which is also great for beginners. Therefore, it caught the eye of even those who just like to watch this game in general and place bets in bookmakers or online.
This game has become so popular that many entertainment centers, including some casinos, are placing courses for games of mini-golf on their premises.
Minigolf Rules
The aim mini golf is to get the ball from the starting point (either a tee, dot, or starting line) to the hole in as little putt strokes as possible.
Given the more entertaining and recreational feel behind mini golf, rules in the game are slightly more relaxed and may even change between mini golf courses in your area and around the world. However, these are the general guidelines of mini golf that are universally recognised:
1. Played with a standard golf ball and a putter
2. A stroke is only counted when the ball is hit and contacts the putt
3. The ball can only be moved by the putt
4. The ball must stay in the hole for completion. If it bounces out, the game continues.
What about out of bounds?
Out of bounds rules are one that varies from place to place. Player should decide at the start of the course which of the following penalties should apply:
- One stroke penalty, and repositioned where the ball was last hit.
- One stroke penalty, repositioned 6 inches away from the nearest black line or marking
- Ball goes back to starting point
Mini Golf Terms
Putt
A putt is a specific golf club that has little weight at the bottom and is designed for controlled and precise strokes. Putts are the tool of choice in mini golf given the course’s vastly small footprint compared to normal golf courses (shorter distance between the starting point and hole).
Some putts used in minigolf, especially in-door mini golf with a more family friendly emphasis, use putts partially made with rubber or plastic. This is in contrast with a full metal design high quality putts are made of.
Hook
A hook refers to when a heavy stroke is applied to the ball, causing it to curve and change direction in the air. Hooks will rarely be used in mini golf except for rare outdoor courses.
Swing
A swing generally refers to the process that the golfer moves his body to hit the ball. This is because a “proper” swing generally involves a person swinging / turning their hips.
Drive
A drive is usually the first shot in golf and is a heavy stroke for the sole purpose of closing the large distance between the starting point to the hole.
Slice
A slice is like a hook, however, refers to when a ball curves to the direction towards your dominant hand. Slices are generally unintended and considered a problem / hurdle for golfers.
Pitch
Pitch shots are done by hitting the ball at an angle close to the ground and intends for the ball to get a fair amount of airtime. Pitch shots are common in mini golf to overcome obstacles or even cut corners and areas out of bounds on a ground level.
Chip
Chip shots are done by hitting the ball downwards. Such shots get a short amount of airtime but are more controlled, they are used in mini golf to bypass bumps or small ramps.
Par
The par refers to the maximum number of strokes allowed for the hole. These pars are individual for each hole given the varying difficulty in a course. In mini-golf, pars can be followed for proper score keeping, but can also be ignored if treated as a more family friendly activity.
Ace (Hole-in-one)
An ace is commonly referred to a hole in one, where a player finishes a hole through a single stroke. Aces are the equivalent to a strike in bowling.
Fairway
A fairway simply refers to an area free of obstacles and will always refer to the green grass / lawn section unless otherwise indicated.
What’s The Difference Between Putt Putt And Mini Golf
Putt putt and mini golf are closely related, with only a few minor technicalities differentiating each. The term putt putt originated from a brand of minigolf centres that has slightly different rules.
Mini golf:
- Can range from easy to difficult, pars between 2-7
- Designed around a common theme, more emphasis on interesting paths
- Players take turns between each putt / stroke
Putt putt:
- Putt putt has generally easier courses, with a par of two
- Shorter and simplified course design
- Players take turns between each hole
Mini Putt Games
Aside from in-door and out-door mini golf, there are virtual mini putt / golf games. There are a range of different mini putt games across; PC, mobile and the various consoles. These games typically have a large virtual course footprint, thus requiring strong swings typically not seen in mini golf.
Popular titles include:
- Mini Golf King
- Golf It!
- Infinite Mini Golf
Mini Putt games, like real golf, revolve around two components:
- Setting the direction you want to hit
- Determining the strength of the hit
WMF Role In the Golf Championship
The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) oversees or partners with all official mini golf related sporting events. The WMF sets a strict guideline for such events to ensure consistency within the sport. The WMF is essentially a supervisory organisation, publishing information regarding player transfers, establish the world ranking, and is responsible for anti-doping regulation.
Where To Play Mini Golf Near Me
There is likely a mini golf centre near you given the popularity of the activity across all ages. While slightly smaller, there will undoubtably be an open mini golf centre in all major cities. For the suburban areas, there should be a place every few suburbs.
Search for mini golf near me Here
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Ottawa
📝 Name: Blackbird Falls Mini Putt
📭 Address: 320 Terry Fox Drive, Ottawa, ON K2K 3L1
💻 Website: www.marshesgolfclub.com
📞 Telephone: +1 800-417-8555
📝 Name: Par-Tee Putt
📭 Address: 379 Preston St Lower Level, Ottawa, ON K1S 4N1, Canada
💻 Website: parteeputt.com
📞Telephone: +1 613-569-0000
📝 Name: Stan’s Driving Range & Miniature Golf
📭 Address: 1905 Richardson Side Rd, Carp, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1L0 Canada
💻 Website: stans.ca
📞 Telephone: +1 613-831-3848
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf Edmonton
📝 Name: Dragon’s Tale Blacklight Mini-Golf
📭 Address: 8882 170 St NW #1767, Edmonton, AB T5T 4J2 Canada
💻 Website: www.wem.ca/play/attractions/dragons-tale
📞 Telephone: +1 780-444-5300
📝 Name: Professor WEM’s Adventure Golf
📭 Address: 8882 170 Street Edmonton, AB T5T 3J7 Canada
💻 Website: www.wem.ca/play/attractions/professor-wems-adventure-golf
📞 Telephone: +1 613-831-3848
📝 Name: St. Albert Bowling & Rec Centre
📭 Address: 14 Inglewood Drive St. Albert, Alberta Canada
💻 Website: stalbertbowling.com
📞 Telephone: +1 780-459-3337
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Putt in Toronto
📝 Name: 401 Mini-Indy Go-Karts
📭 Address: 37 Stoffel Dr, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A8 Canada
💻 Website: www.401miniindy.com
📞 Telephone: +1 416-614-6789
📝 Name: Centennial Park Golf Centre
📭 Address: 550 Centennial Park Blvd. Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5R5 Canada
💻 Website: www.golfcpgc.com
📞 Telephone: +1 416-620-1392
📝 Name: The Putting Edge
📭 Address: 410 Progress Ave, Toronto, Ontario M1P 5J1 Canada
💻 Website: www.puttingedge.com
📞 Telephone: +1 647-943-7450
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Halifax (Nova Scotia)
📝Name: Goodwood Family Golf Ctr
📭 Address: 1300 Prospect Rd, Hatchet Lake, NS B3T 1P6, Canada
💻 Website: www.goodwoodfamilygolf.com
📞 Telephone: +1 902-876-1122
📝 Name: Halifax Putting Edge
📭 Address: 182 Chain Lake Dr, Halifax, NS B3S 1C5 Canada
💻 Website: www.puttingedge.com/halifax/
📞 Telephone: +1 902-450-0029
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Putt in Quebec City
📝 Name: Bar Laitier Mini Golf Fluo S’Amuse
📭 Address: 475 Boul de l’Atrium Local 105, Québec, QC G1H 7H9, Canada
📞 Telephone: +1 418-614-5111
📝 Name: Fun Putt et Lance Balle Vanier
📭 Address: 1170 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, Quebec City, Quebec G1M 2S4 Canada
📞 Telephone: +1 418-688-3354
📝 Name: Mini-Putt mobile
📭 Address: 9485 Rue Drolet, Québec, QC G2K 1J7, Canada
💻 Websites: minigolfmobile.com/ www.miniputttroisrivieres.com/
📞 Telephone: +1 418-932-1813
Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Barrie
📝 Name: Cedar Links Family Golf Centre
📭 Address: 611 Huronia Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 7W8, Canada
💻 Website: www.cedarlinks.ca
📞 Telephone: +1 705-727-4653
📝 Name: Putt Mini Golf
📭 Address: 34 Commerce Park Dr Right beside Pie, around the corner from Galaxy Cinemas Barrie., Barrie, Ontario L4N 8W8 Canada
💻 Website: puttminigolf.com
📞 Telephone: +1 705-503-4499
Outdoor Mini Golf in Wasaga Beach
📝 Name: Skull Island Miniature Golf
📭 Address: 104 Main Street Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada L9Z 2K9
💻 Website: skullislandminigolf.com
📞 Telephone: +1 705-888-2036
📝 Name: Wasaga 500 Mini Golf
📭 Address: 152 River Rd W, Wasaga Beach, Ontario L9Z 2X2 Canada
💻 Website: wasaga500.com/services/mini-golf
📞 Telephone: 705-322-2594
📧 Email: [email protected]
Brief History Of Mini Golf
Minigolf had originated from the 19th Century, having had a fairly short history compared to modern golf which started back in the 15th Century.
Who Invented Mini Golf? Where did it come from?
The individual creator of the miniature game of golf (mini golf) is still unknown, however, it can be traced back to The Ladies’ Putting Club of St. Andrews in 1867. The women’s club had developed the miniature game, by focusing on the putting phase of golf, where control and accuracy is key. The first instances of mini golf simply focused on putting, with no fancy obstacles unlike its modern counterpart.
Putt Putt on the other hand had been founded by “Don Clayton”, the man behind “Putt Putt Golf Courses” in 1953. Don Clayton developed mini golf into his own, naming it Putt Putt with some slight differences as mentioned above. Here, Clayton hosted numerous tournaments, spreading the its popularity so largely that many now view Putt Putt synonymously with mini golf.