Origin

• In 1867, The Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, featured an 18-hole putting green known as "The Himalayas." At the time, it was considered socially unacceptable for women to raise a golf club above their shoulders, limiting any golf participation to putting. Although designed for women, the course has since become famous, with many professional golfers and even a former President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, as course players.
  
  

Miniature Golf in America

• The first miniature golf course in America appeared in 1916 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Built by James Barber, the course was called "Thistle Du Putting Course." Miniature golf exploded onto the American pop culture scene during the Great Depression in Manhattan. With the country ailing, people searched for cheap and local entertainment. Across the city, miniature golf courses appeared on the rooftops of Manhattan's apartment buildings.
  
  

The Era of AstroTurf

• In the 1960s, the introduction of AstroTurf changed the miniature golf world. Essentially serving as an instant and weatherproof putting green, the grass carpet of AstroTurf provided a smooth putting green-style surface for miniature golf holes. The AstroTurf also required less maintenance than other types of surfaces, reducing the expense of maintaining a miniature golf course and increasing the profitability.
  
  

Roadside Attractions

• With the relative ease that AstroTurf provided in building miniature golf courses, Americans began seeing courses pop up as roadside attractions for families on vacation and those looking for a fun activity on a weekend. With people given more access to courses, the popularity of the sport soared. Soon corporations got involved with miniature golf and courses began to compete.
  
  

Mini Golf Arms Race

• In the 1980s, miniature golf course designers began trying to outdo their competition. The courses with the biggest mountains, most waterfalls, brightest lights or other distinguishing factors attracted the most customers. This resulted in miniature golf adventure parks with 36-, 54- or even 72-hole attractions. Over the course of 100 years, miniature golf had evolved from a women's membership putting club to an entertainment industry.