How To Play Mini Golf

Mini golf is a game that is fun both alone as well as with family and friends, but how do you go about playing this miniature take on the classic sport?

In this article, we are going to be taking a closer look at mini golf as a whole as well as diving into how to play so that no matter what your skill level, you are sure to have a fantastic mini golf experience! Let’s get started. 

How To Play Mini Golf

What Is Mini Golf?

Mini golf is- as the name suggests- a miniature take on the sport that is golf, though in an environment that is more catered to the fun nature of the game rather than a serious sporting one. 

Some other names for mini golf including putt-putt golfing, crazy golf, adventure golf and extreme golf. 

The courses in mini golf are inspired by the early 20th century artificial greens on which golf is played. They also tend to have objects that reflect real life structures- such as bridges or windmills- that act as creative obstacles for you to try and maneuver the golf ball thorough or around as you play. 

Preparing For Mini Golf

Before you even get started with the game, there are a few things that you will need to prepare. 

Where Can You Play Mini Golf?

First off, you need to know where exactly you are going! 

Mini golf courses are relatively popular, but you might find that some are closer to home than others. Do your research to see where the closest mini golf course is to you, but make sure to check the reviews of the location before you make your decision.

Choosing Your Putter

Mini golf courses have their own putters available, but they can sometimes be a bit flimsy due to the frequent use. 

Decide on whether you want to bring your own putter with you, or if you are happy to simply use whatever the mini golf course has to offer beforehand. 

If you bring your own putter, pick one that is well suited for a wide range of holes and courses so that you are prepared for anything.

Picking Your Course

Once you know exactly where you want to go to play mini golf, do your research on the location to see what kind of courses they offer. There are different lengths of courses, with some popular options being 18 hole courses and 9 hole courses.

The shorter courses tend to be easier to navigate, so if you are a complete beginner, this could be a good place to start. 

That being said, some people might find that they have more fun when they are issued more of a challenge, so a more difficult course may well be better suited to you. 

How To Play Mini Golf

How To Play Mini Golf

Now that we have everything we need prepared, let’s get into actually playing some mini golf!

Get To Grips With The Rules

The rules of mini golf can be a little challenging to get a firm grasp on, but once you do, you’ll be having fun for hours on end. 

Get well versed with the rules, but don’t worry about things like hitting trees with your ball or other similar issues, as- unlike in real golf- these kind of problems won’t affect your game too much. 

One rule that does apply to mini golf as well as regular golf is that the ball can only be hit so many times, so make every shot count!

Keep It Smooth But Firm

Too light of a tap will only lead to you quickly running out of strokes, whilst going in too hard might cause your ball to fly away into the stratosphere! 

To get the right motion, try to keep your strokes firm and decisive, but smooth enough to avoid smashing the ball.

In order to get an idea of what kind of motion you will need to use- and how soft or hard you need to tap the ball- look over the layout of the course. This should give you an idea of what you will need to do.

Play The Angles

Mini golf courses are known for sometimes having various angles (though there are also plenty of straight courses too, so don’t let that scare you!) and it can be a little tricky to get to grips with them. 

If you find yourself face to face with a particularly taxing angle, don’t be afraid to be authoritative with your swings in order to tackle the angles when you need to.

Tee Up

When you begin playing, you will see that on each hole, there is a designated area where you can place the ball before your first shot. 

This is called “teeing” up the ball, and whilst it can be easy to forget to do so, make sure that you utilize the designated area. This will give you the best chance to start off your game strong. 

Take Note Of The Layout Of The Course

We touched on this earlier, but as well as checking out the course when it comes to evaluating angles, it can also be very handy to get a feel for the course layout in general too before you start playing. 

There are a fair amount of elements to a mini golf course that can affect your game, such as obstacles, bumps and those aforementioned angles. Knowing what is coming as you go through your game can be incredibly helpful, so have a thorough examination of the course to keep yourself a step ahead of your opponents!

Final Thoughts

So there you have some useful tips and tricks to consider when it comes to playing mini golf. 

The most important thing to remember above everything else when it comes to playing mini golf is to just have fun, so grab your putter and your golf ball and get ready to have a fun and challenging time!

Garratt Shmidt
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