The History of Mini Golf
Who doesn't love a game of Mini Golf? The game - also known as Crazy Golf or Miniature Golf - is a fun and competitive activity loved by everyone, and it's a fast-paced entertainment that suits parties of any kind. Mini golf is perfect for stag events and birthdays, or you can play a game of mini golf at your next work day out with all of your colleagues. You might see it at corporate fun days, exhibitions, and much more.
But what is the history of Mini Golf? Although the game might seem like it could've existed for millennia, it's actually much more recent than you think!
Mini Golf and Crazy Golf - A Brief History
Mini golf doesn't have a long history, and it's relatively modern compared to other funfair games and entertainment. It has its origins back in the 20th century, with a 1912 edition of the Illustrated London News creating a game called "Gofstacle" which combined the popular game of golf with different obstacles and challenges.
After this, small golf courses started popping up in a few places, including North Carolina and Tennessee. However, mini golf courses were still in their early years, and the original game of golf was still much more popular than the miniature 'Crazy' version.
This all changed in 1922, when golf enthusiast Thomas McCullough Fairbairn created artificial grass that was just right to play this exciting new game. Suddenly, mini golf was an accessible game that could be played across the US, and artificial mini golf courses started appearing across the country! By the end of the 1920s there were 150 rooftop mini golf courses in New York and even more across the rest of America.
In 1930, America introduced its first mini golf tournament, making this entertaining game into a sporting competition for golf lovers across the world to watch and enjoy. However, the mini golf came to a grinding halt as the Great Depression hit America in the 1930s, and the idea of playing crazy golf competitively has only just come back onto the radar of American sports professionals in recent years.
After the Depression, many people started to improve the original game of mini golf invented back in the early 20th century. No longer did the game just consist of banks, curves, and pipes. Now, inventors and players started to create more complicated and entertaining obstacles, including windmills, wells, castles, animals and more.
The game was now more like the one we might see at parties or funfairs today, and it took the world by storm! During the Vietnam War, the military shipped specially-made golf courses across to the war front, offering an entertaining break for the soldiers living over there.
To this day, mini golf remains one of the most popular entertainment options for parties and events across America and Europe, and offers anyone the chance to try their luck and impress everyone with their fantastic skills.
We can also help you find out how to win at Mini Golf!
We have a great range of modern mini golf options for hire, such as our 9 Hole Mini Golf Course, all ready to hire for your next special occasion. We would love to give you and your guests the party of a lifetime!
Please get in touch with our funfair ride and fairground entertainment experts for more.
information about our mini golf courses for hire or to begin the rental process today. We can't wait to hear from you!