Mini-Golf Review – Origin And Rules Of Mini-Putt Game

Miniature Golf in Canada

Miniature golf, also known as mini-golf or mini-putt, is often regarded as the crazy golf spin-off. The best mini golf courses are themed, and have different and interesting paths.

golf ball

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.

As the popularity of mini golf continues to rise, so does its presence in the online gambling world. Betting on mini-golf tournaments has become an exciting niche within the broader online gambling landscape. Players can now engage with their favourite sport in a new way, placing bets on various aspects of the game, from individual match outcomes to tournament winners. Integrating mini golf with online betting platforms offers enthusiasts a fresh and engaging way to enjoy the sport.

a man performs a punch (Indoor Mini Golf)

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.

Outdoor mini golf masks

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:

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1. Played with a standard golf ball and a putter

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2. A stroke is only counted when the ball is hit and contacts the putt

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3. The ball can only be moved by the putt

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4. The ball must stay in the hole for completion. If it bounces out, the game continues.

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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 Putter

Mini Golf Terms


Putt golf

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.

hook golf
swing mini golf

Swing

A swing generally refers to the process that the golfer moves his body to hit the ball. This is because a β€œproper” 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.

drive mini golf
slice golf

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.

pitch mini golf
chip mini golf

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.

par mini-golf
Ace (Hole-in-one) mini golf

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.

fairway mini-golf

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:

  1. Mini Golf King
  2. Golf It!
  3. Infinite Mini Golf

Mini Putt games, like real golf, revolve around two components:

  1. Setting the direction you want to hit
  2. Determining the strength of the hit

WMF Role In the Golf Championship

WMF Mini Golf

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.

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Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Ottawa

A girl is playing mini-golf in Blackbird Falls Mini Putt

πŸ“ Name: Blackbird Falls Mini Putt
πŸ“­ Address: 320 Terry Fox Drive, Ottawa, ON K2K 3L1
πŸ’» Website: www.marshesgolfclub.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 800-417-8555

A girl is playing mini golf in Par-Tee Putt

πŸ“ Name: Par-Tee Putt
πŸ“­ Address: 379 Preston St Lower Level, Ottawa, ON K1S 4N1, Canada
πŸ’» Website: parteeputt.com
πŸ“žTelephone: +1 613-569-0000

Kids are playing mini golf in Stan's Driving Range & Miniature Golf

πŸ“ Name: Stan’s Driving Range & Miniature Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 1905 Richardson Side Rd, Carp, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1L0 Canada
πŸ’» Website: stans.ca
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 613-831-3848

Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf Edmonton

Mom and her son are playing mini putt in Dragon's Tale Blacklight Mini-Golf

πŸ“ Name: Dragon’s Tale Blacklight Mini-Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 8882 170 St NW #1767, Edmonton, AB T5T 4J2 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.wem.ca/play/attractions/dragons-tale
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 780-444-5300

Visitors in Professor WEM's Adventure Golf

πŸ“ Name: Professor WEM’s Adventure Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 8882 170 Street Edmonton, AB T5T 3J7 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.wem.ca/play/attractions/professor-wems-adventure-golf
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 613-831-3848

Minigolf fairways in St. Albert Bowling & Rec Centre

πŸ“ Name: St. Albert Bowling & Rec Centre
πŸ“­ Address: 14 Inglewood Drive St. Albert, Alberta Canada
πŸ’» Website: stalbertbowling.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 780-459-3337

Indoor & Outdoor Mini Putt in Toronto

People who are playing mini putt in 401 Mini-Indy Go-Karts

πŸ“ Name: 401 Mini-Indy Go-Karts
πŸ“­ Address: 37 Stoffel Dr, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A8 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.401miniindy.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 416-614-6789

Minigolf fairways in Centennial Park Golf Centre

πŸ“ Name: Centennial Park Golf Centre
πŸ“­ Address: 550 Centennial Park Blvd. Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5R5 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.golfcpgc.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 416-620-1392

A group of people are playing mini golf in The Putting Edge

πŸ“ Name: The Putting Edge
πŸ“­ Address: 410 Progress Ave, Toronto, Ontario M1P 5J1 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.puttingedge.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 647-943-7450

Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Halifax (Nova Scotia)

People are playing mini putt in Goodwood Family Golf Ctr

πŸ“Name: Goodwood Family Golf Ctr
πŸ“­ Address: 1300 Prospect Rd, Hatchet Lake, NS B3T 1P6, Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.goodwoodfamilygolf.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 902-876-1122

Illuminated mini golf in Halifax Putting Edge

πŸ“ Name: Halifax Putting Edge
πŸ“­ Address: 182 Chain Lake Dr, Halifax, NS B3S 1C5 Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.puttingedge.com/halifax/
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 902-450-0029

Indoor & Outdoor Mini Putt in Quebec City

Mini golf fairways in Bar Laitier Mini Golf Fluo S'Amuse

πŸ“ Name: Bar Laitier Mini Golf Fluo S’Amuse
πŸ“­ Address: 475 Boul de l’Atrium Local 105, QuΓ©bec, QC G1H 7H9, Canada
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 418-614-5111

A ball is on the mini golf fairway in Fun Putt et Lance Balle Vanier

πŸ“ Name: Fun Putt et Lance Balle Vanier
πŸ“­ Address: 1170 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, Quebec City, Quebec G1M 2S4 Canada
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 418-688-3354

Mini golf fairways in Mini-Putt mobile

πŸ“ Name: Mini-Putt mobile
πŸ“­ Address: 9485 Rue Drolet, QuΓ©bec, QC G2K 1J7, Canada
πŸ’» Websites: minigolfmobile.com/ www.miniputttroisrivieres.com/
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 418-932-1813

Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf in Barrie

Golf Club Cedar Links Family Golf Centre in Barrie

πŸ“ Name: Cedar Links Family Golf Centre
πŸ“­ Address: 611 Huronia Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 7W8, Canada
πŸ’» Website: www.cedarlinks.ca
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 705-727-4653

Illuminated fairways for mini golf in Putt Mini Golf in Barrie

πŸ“ Name: Putt Mini Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 34 Commerce Park Dr Right beside Pie, around the corner from Galaxy Cinemas Barrie., Barrie, Ontario L4N 8W8 Canada
πŸ’» Website: puttminigolf.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 705-503-4499

Outdoor Mini Golf in Wasaga Beach

Mini golf fairways designed with a ship in the lake in Skull Island Miniature Golf

πŸ“ Name: Skull Island Miniature Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 104 Main Street Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada L9Z 2K9
πŸ’» Website: skullislandminigolf.com
πŸ“ž Telephone: +1 705-888-2036

A boy is playing mini putt in Wasaga 500 Mini Golf club

πŸ“ Name: Wasaga 500 Mini Golf
πŸ“­ Address: 152 River Rd W, Wasaga Beach, Ontario L9Z 2X2 Canada
πŸ’» Website: wasaga500.com/services/mini-golf
πŸ“ž Telephone: 705-322-2594
πŸ“§ 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.

History Mini Golf

Who Invented Mini Golf? Where did it come from?

Miniature golf history, The Crazy Golf Museum

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 β€œDon Clayton”, the man behind β€œPutt 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.