How to Win at Mini Golf

Mini golf is a fun game that tests your patience, timing, and confidence on the golf course. Also known as miniature golf and crazy golf, the activity has provided fun and laughter for people of all ages for generations.
But how do you win at mini golf? The courses are notoriously tricky, with some unusual obstacles and confusing passages, plus plenty of short-game skills required. We Are Tricycle, the UK's funfair and fairground ride hire team, look at how to defeat any mini golf course.
While some of us might experience a bit of beginner's luck, mini golf is a game of skill! Even if you're not an avid golf player, there are lots of little things you can do to make sure you impress all of your guests at your next party or event.
Check out our guide below to find out how to win at your next game of mini golf.
Choose the perfect golf putter
When you start a fun game of mini golf, you need to choose the perfect putter to make sure you win the game.
As a rule of thumb, if you're relatively short, choose a shorter putter to maximise your skills. If you're a tall player, choose a longer putter to get the ball in the hole every time. You don't need any other clubs for mini golf - every course needs a putter, and there should even be the potential for a few hole-in-ones!
Visualise where you need the ball to go
If you want to beat your friends in a fun game of mini golf, you need to make sure you know exactly where you want the ball to go each time you hit it. Take a second before your shot to look where your ball is on the course, and where you need it to go to make the most of your turn.
If you visualise what needs to happen before you hit the ball, you'll be one step closer to putting a winning shot.
Clear the golf course
Before you get ready to hit the ball, you need to make sure nothing is in the way. The mini golf course will be full of whimsical obstacles such as windmills or animals, but you don't want any rubbish on the course before you take a swing.
Get rid of any debris or stones that have made its way onto the course during the game so you have a clear shot; you only want the manufacturer's obstacles to content with!
Practice makes perfect
When it comes to the game of mini golf, practice really does make perfect. Spend a bit of time on the mini golf course in your spare time to practice your shots. If you're at a party or event, ask if you can all have a practice round to start, and understand what you need to do to win the game when you play competitively.
Above all, a game of mini golf should be fun! It can bring together friends, families, or work colleagues, providing unique entertainment that's just a little bit different. Don't worry too much about winning - it's supposed to be low-stakes enjoyable entertainment!

Here at We Are Tricycle, we have fantastic mini golf courses to hire for your next big event, such as our stunning 9 Hole Mini Golf Course. Impress all of your friends with our guide and make sure you are the ultimate mini golf champion!
Contact us now to hire mini golf for your next celebration or to find out more information. We're always happy to provide you with expert assistance and information about any of our products.
Mini Golf Is Often Won by Avoiding Costly Mistakes
It is tempting to think that winning mini golf is mainly about spectacular hole-in-ones. In practice, consistently completing holes without adding unnecessary strokes can be just as important. A sensible shot that leaves an easy second attempt may produce a better overall score than repeatedly attempting a difficult shortcut.
Mini Golf Experience combines accuracy with decision-making, giving players opportunities to change their approach from one hole to the next.
Read the Whole Hole Before Taking Your First Shot
Before playing, look beyond the immediate obstacle and consider where the ball needs to finish. Banks, corners, barriers and changes in direction can make the most obvious route different from the most useful one.
Thinking about the complete route also helps when deciding how much pace is required. The aim is not simply to get past the first obstacle, but to leave the ball somewhere useful afterwards.
Use the Edges of the Course When They Help
The sides of a mini golf hole are not always something to avoid. On suitable layouts, a controlled bank shot can provide a route around an obstacle or towards a better part of the playing area.
The angle matters, however. Hitting a side barrier without considering the resulting direction can simply send the ball somewhere less useful. Players can learn a great deal by watching how their own shots and those of other participants rebound from the course.
Control the Pace of the Ball
More power does not automatically produce a better mini golf shot. A ball travelling too quickly can pass the intended position, rebound strongly or make the next attempt more difficult.
Developing control over shorter putts can be particularly valuable because these are the shots that frequently determine whether a hole takes one additional stroke. skill games includes other attractions where controlled execution can matter more than force.
Plan the Second Shot Before Playing the First
If a hole-in-one looks unlikely, consider where you would ideally like the ball to stop. This changes the objective of the opening shot from simply getting as close to the hole as possible to creating a straightforward next attempt.
That type of positional thinking also makes mini golf suitable for competitive games, because players can reach similar scores while using quite different strategies.
Adapt Instead of Using the Same Putting Style Everywhere
Mini golf courses are designed to present different problems. A technique that works on a straight hole may be inappropriate when the next requires a bank, controlled approach or route around an obstacle.
Changing pace and direction according to the layout is therefore more useful than trying to develop one supposedly perfect shot. Players who want to understand the wider format can also explore the Mini Golf FAQs.
Keep Track of the Overall Score
Winning a round is determined by performance over the course rather than one individual hole. A poor result on one section does not necessarily decide the game, just as a hole-in-one does not guarantee victory.
This makes mini golf particularly useful for organised group activities. How to Plan a Team Building Day looks at structuring entertainment for groups, while team building includes other activities that can complement a mini golf competition.
Combine Mini Golf with Other Low-Barrier Games
Mini golf can form part of a varied games area rather than operating as the only competition. Giant Connect 4, Giant Jenga and Giant Chess offer different tests of judgement and decision-making, while garden games provides further options for mixed activity areas.
How to Choose the Right Funfair Rides & Games can help when planning the wider entertainment selection. You can also browse all products, continue through our Guides, or contact us about mini golf and games for your event.