Stuff You Should Know Selects: How Miniature Golf Works
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Dec 27, 2025 Dive into the whimsical world of miniature golf and discover its fascinating origins, starting in Scotland with the Ladies Putting Club. Uncover the first American course at Pinehurst and the explosion of popularity in the 1920s with rooftop greens and prefab turf. Learn about the creative hazards of Garnet Carter's Fairyland course and the evolution of Putt-Putt in the '50s, emphasizing skillful play. Explore quirky tourist destinations and the rise of competitive mini golf, alongside nostalgic reflections on abandoned courses.
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Origins At St. Andrews
- The first recorded miniature golf was the Ladies Putting Club at St. Andrews in 1867 created because men barred women from full swings.
- That course remains celebrated and shows miniature golf began as a scaled-down, legitimate golf form.
Mini Golf Lands In The U.S.
- James Barber brought miniature golf to the U.S. with an 18-hole course at Pinehurst called Thistledew.
- The term "miniature golf" was first used in coverage of those early U.S. competitions.
1920s Boom And Prefab Franchises
- 1926 sparked a massive boom in miniature golf driven by rooftop courses and prefab kits.
- Prefab greens and franchising turned whimsical Tom Thumb style into a nationwide craze.
