100 names for Miniature Golf

A look at different names for miniature golf.

Looney Golf in Bradford - the name makes a change from the 'usual' Crazy Golf often found in the UK

There are a number of different names for the game of miniature golf and on our crazy golfing adventures we've found 100 different names for it:

1. 3D Golf
2. 4D Golf
3. 5 Star Crazy Golf
4. Abenteuergolf
5. Adventure Crazy Golf
6. Adventure Golf
7. Adventure Golf Grass Putting
8. Adventure Putting
9. Bahnegolf
10. Bangolf
11. Beach Golf
12. Beton
13. Blacklight Indoor Mini Golf
14. Carpeted Miniature Golf
15. Chrizy Golf
16. Circuito de Minigolf
17. Cosmic Golf
18. Crazee Golf
19. Crazier Golf
20. Crazier Nolf
21. Crazy Adventure Golf
22. Crazy Golf
23. Crazy Golf Adventure
24. Crazy Golf Pool
25. Crazy Jungle Golf
26. Crazy Pool
27. Crazy Putting Challenge
28. Crazy Snooker
29. Cwrs Golff Bach
30. Eternit
31. Extraordinary Golf
32. Fantasy Golf
33. Feltgolf
34. Garden Adventure Golf
35. Garden Minigolf
36. Ghetto Golf
37. Golf Byr
38. Golff Anturus
39. Golff Bach
40. Golf FX
41. Golff Giamocs
42. Golff Gwallgof
43. Golff Gwirion
44. Golff Gwyllt
45. Golff Mini
46. Golf Trail
47. Grass Putting
48. Gwallgolff
49. Hindernis Billard
50. Indoor Adventure Golf
51. Indoor Crazy Golf
52. Indoor Miniature Golf
53. Indoor Mini Golf
54. Indoor Minigolf
55. Junkyard Golf
56. Jurassic Golf
57. Krazy Golf
58. Le Mini Golf
59. Llain Bytio
60. Looney Golf
61. Maes Golff
62. Magical Crazy Golf
63. Magical Golf
64. Magical Golf FX
65. Midgetgolfbaan
66. Mini Golf
67. Mini-Golf Garden
68. Mini Putting
69. Mini Sculpture Golf
70. Miniature Crazy Golf
71. Miniature Golf
72. Miniaturgolf
73. Miniaturegolf
74. Miniatvre Golf
75. Minigolf
76. Minigolff
77. NIFO Steel Minigolf
78. Novelty Golf
79. Obstacle Golf
80. Pit-Pat
81. Pit-Pat Table Golf
82. Pitch & Putt
83. Plonk Golf / Plonk! Golf
84. Portable Crazy Golf
85. Portable Minigolf
86. Portaputt
87. Putting
88. Putting Course
89. Putting Green
90. Putt Putt
91. Ratagolf
92. Realistic Miniature Golf
93. Retro Golf
94. Rock N Golf
95. Snookergolf
96. Super tech mini golf
97. Swedish Felt
98. Table Golf
99. Themed Golf
100. Woolly Golf / Wooly Golf

Do you know of any other names, or call it something else yourself? Do let us know in the comments.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, and there are lots of new places to play the game opening all the time. Several courses have closed over the years, while others have been refurbished, redeveloped or completely transformed into new layouts.

All the of the changes and updates means our minigolf quest to visit every course is becoming never-ending! When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. We've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit.

We've now been to 1,064 courses overall in the last 18 years, with 1,007 of those locations in the British Isles.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,111 courses.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

You can see all of the courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list.

Related blog posts:

• Definitions of Miniature Golf
• Types and Variants of Miniature Golf

Definitions of Miniature Golf

A look at names for the game of miniature golf.

Minigolf Miraflores in Mallorca, Spain in May 2023

There are a number of different names for the game of minigolf. While there are some design standards for courses, most would be regarded as 'fantasy' courses where the end result is limited only by imagination, building regulations and budgets.

In the UK many people would refer to 'minigolf' as 'crazy golf'. This is me and the sign for 'The Original Crazy Golf' course (established in 1926) in Skegness, Lincolnshire back in May 2015

Here's a look at the common names for the game of putting:

Minigolf (also Mini Golf, Mini-Golf, Miniature Golf) – Minigolf is a catch-all name for the game and can be used to describe every type of course no matter its make-up or design.

Some Pitch & Putt and Par-3 Golf courses also describe themselves as Minigolf / Miniature Golf.

Adventure Golf – Adventure Golf is a relatively new name for the game and mostly describes a course with theming such as pirates, jungles, dinosaurs and space.

Crazy Golf – Crazy Golf is a name most commonly used in the UK. It is seldom, if ever, used overseas except in tourist spots popular with UK natives.

An equivalent name in the USA would be Goofy Golf.

Mini-putt – Mini-putt courses are similar in appearance to Putt-Putt courses however they have distinct standardised hole designs and are particular to Canada.

"Mini-putt" is the Québécois term for the game of minigolf, thanks largely to the popularity of the Quebec cable sports show 'Défi mini-putt' in the 1970s and 80s.

Pitch & Putt – Sometimes Pitch & Putt courses will use the name Miniature Golf or Minigolf.

Putt-Putt – Putt-Putt is a trademark and denotes specific patented types of miniature golf courses. Most courses can be found in the USA, with some still in operation in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Putt-Putt is sometimes incorrectly used as a catch-all / interchangeable name with Minigolf to describe a course or the game.

Putting – Grass Putting courses and Putting Greens are a type of minigolf and are often found at the seaside or in parks and gardens.

We have found 100 synonyms, types and variants of minigolf on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels to date.

Crazy Golf at the Yorkshire Ice Cream Farm Hatfield, Doncaster

What do you call the game? Do let us know in the comments.

Number of holes on a miniature golf course

Most minigolf courses consist of either 9 or 18 holes. There are also a number of 12-hole courses. Some venues have two, three or four separate 9-hole or 12-hole courses to create 36-hole centres.

Some courses classify themselves as 19-hole courses by including a Lucky Last Hole where a free game can be won.

Pop-up miniature golf

There are also a growing number of pop-up minigolf courses created for retailtainment activity and promotions, sports tasters, marketing events, art installations and more.

Miniature Golf competitions and tournaments

As well as being played as a fun, leisure activity there is also an official competition side to the game.

Tournament play is more established in continental Europe, although the UK and USA have governing bodies and hold a number of competitions each year.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the governing body for minigolf and has member nations around the world.

Players competing in official WMF tournaments tend to use putters specially designed for the needs of minigolfers as well as minigolf balls made of rubber and designed with competition players in mind, allowing them to find the best hole-in-one shot.

Tournaments are held on four types of minigolf courses and the WMF has its own definitions:

Feltgolf – Feltgolf courses (also known as Swedish Felt) are a type of course made of a felt covered wooden base consisting of 18 holes from a selection of 32 standardised designs.

Concrete – Concrete courses (also known as Beton) are a type of course made of a concrete base with metal rails as borders. They consist of 18 standardised holes. Some courses have a mirror-image of certain designs.

Miniaturegolf – Miniaturegolf courses (also known as Eternit) are a type of course made of a thin concrete material consisting of 18 holes from a selection of 28 standardised designs.

Minigolf Open Standard (MOS) – these are courses that do not fit into the above standard types and would be more recognisable to most players in the UK and USA. MOS courses include Adventure Golf courses, Crazy Golf layouts and Minigolf courses that take inspiration from regular golf. Each hole on a WMF-sanctioned MOS course can range from 3 to 40 metres in length.

Competitions are also held on the Stern Golf and Cobi Golf systems, although these types of courses are not well known outside of Germany.

Definitions of minigolf - Crazy Golf

A look at names for the game of minigolf.

Crazy Golf – Crazy Golf is a name most commonly used in the UK. It is seldom, if ever, used overseas except in tourist spots popular with UK natives.

England's first Crazy Golf opened on South Parade in Skegness in 1926 and the game is widely known by that name in the UK.

At The Original Crazy Golf in Skegness back in May 2015

See other definitions for other names of the game of minigolf

Definitions of minigolf

A look at names for the game of minigolf.

There are a number of different names for the game of minigolf. While there are some design standards for courses, most would be regarded as 'fantasy' courses where the end result is limited only by imagination, budgets and building regulations.

In the UK many people would refer to minigolf as crazy golf. This is the sign at the Crazy Golf course at Fletchers Family Garden Centre in Eccleshall, Staffordshire

Here's a look at the common names for the game of putting:

Minigolf (also Mini Golf, Mini-Golf, Miniature Golf) – Minigolf is a catch-all name for the game and can be used to describe every type of course no matter its make-up or design.

Some Pitch & Putt and Par-3 Golf courses also describe themselves as Minigolf / Miniature Golf.

Adventure Golf – Adventure Golf is a relatively new name for the game and mostly describes a course with theming such as pirates, jungles, dinosaurs and space.

Crazy Golf – Crazy Golf is a name most commonly used in the UK. It is seldom, if ever, used overseas except in tourist spots popular with UK natives.

An equivalent name in the USA would be Goofy Golf.

Mini-putt – Mini-putt courses are similar in appearance to Putt-Putt courses however they have distinct standardised hole designs and are particular to Canada.

"Mini-putt" is the Québécois term for the game of minigolf, thanks largely to the popularity of the Quebec cable sports show 'Défi mini-putt' in the 1970s and 80s.

Pitch & Putt – Sometimes Pitch & Putt courses will use the name Miniature Golf or Minigolf.

Putt-Putt – Putt-Putt is a trademark and denotes specific patented types of miniature golf courses. Most courses can be found in the USA, with some in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Putt-Putt is sometimes incorrectly used as a catch-all / interchangeable name with Minigolf to describe a course or the game.

Putting – Grass Putting courses and Putting Greens are a type of minigolf and are often found at the seaside or in parks and gardens.

We have found 91 synonyms, types and variants of minigolf on our travels to date.

What do you call the game? Do let us know in the comments.

Number of holes

Most minigolf courses consist of either 9 or 18 holes. There are also a number of 12-hole courses. Some venues have two, three or four separate 9-hole or 12-hole courses to create 36-hole centres.

There is a 4-hole course in Halifax, Yorkshire and a number of courses classify themselves as 19-hole courses by including a Lucky Last Hole where a free game can be won.

Pop-ups

There are also a number of pop-up minigolf courses created for retailtainment activity and promotions, sports tasters, marketing events, art installations and more.

Competitions

As well as being played as a fun, leisure activity there is also an official competition side to the game.

Tournament play is more established in continental Europe, although the UK and USA have governing bodies and hold a number of competitions each year.

World Minigolf Sport Federation

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the governing body for minigolf and has 63 member nations. There are currently a further three countries awaiting recognition as full members.

• There are 900 registered member clubs worldwide.
• 38,000 people around the world play in a tournament each year.
• 1,000 approved tournament courses.
• 1,500+ competitions held each year.

Players competing in tournaments tend to use putters specially designed for the needs of minigolfers as well as minigolf balls made of rubber and designed with competition players in mind, allowing them to find the best hole-in-one shot.

Tournaments are held on four types of minigolf courses and the WMF has its own definitions:

Feltgolf – Feltgolf courses (also known as Swedish Felt) are a type of course made of a felt covered wooden base consisting of 18 holes from a selection of 32 standardised designs.

Concrete – Concrete courses (also known as Beton) are a type of course made of a concrete base with metal rails as borders. They consist of 18 standardised holes. Some courses have a mirror-image of certain designs.

Miniaturegolf – Miniaturegolf courses (also known as Eternit) are a type of course made of a thin concrete material consisting of 18 holes from a selection of 28 standardised designs.

Minigolf Open Standard (MOS) – these are courses that do not fit into the above standard types and would be more recognisable to most players in the UK and USA. MOS courses include Adventure Golf courses, Crazy Golf layouts and Minigolf courses that take inspiration from regular golf. Each hole on a WMF-sanctioned MOS course can range from 3 to 40 metres in length.

Competitions are also held on the Stern Golf and Cobi Golf systems, although these are not well known outside of Germany.

You can see the many types, styles and names of 'Minigolf' we've found on our travels in our blog post 'Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour'.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Newsletter archive and sign-up to receive future editions

Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

The many types, styles and names of 'Minigolf' we've found on our travels.

Since our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in September 2006 we have visited, seen or played minigolf in a number of forms, names and guises.

Here in the UK the game is very often known as Crazy Golf

They include:

3D Golf
4D Golf
5 Star Crazy Golf
Abenteuergolf

Adventure Crazy Golf

Adventure Golf
Adventure Golf Grass Putting
Adventure Putting

Bahnegolf
Bangolf

Beach Golf
Beton
Blacklight Indoor Mini Golf
Carpeted Miniature Golf
Chrizy Golf

Circuito de Minigolf
Cosmic Golf
Crazee Golf
Crazier Golf

Crazier Nolf
Crazy Adventure Golf
Crazy Golf
Crazy Golf Adventure
Crazy Golf Pool

Crazy Jungle Golf
Crazy Pool
Crazy Putting Challenge
Crazy Snooker
Cwrs Golff Bach
Eternit
Extraordinary Golf
Fantasy Golf
Feltgolf
Garden Adventure Golf

Garden Minigolf
Ghetto Golf
Golf Byr
Golff Anturus
Golff Bach
Golf FX
Golff Giamocs
Golff Gwallgof
Golff Gwirion

Golff Gwyllt

Golff Mini
Golf Trail
Grass Putting
Gwallgolff

Hindernis Billard

Indoor Adventure Golf
Indoor Crazy Golf
Indoor Miniature Golf
Indoor Mini Golf
Indoor Minigolf
Junkyard Golf

Jurassic Golf
Krazy Golf
Le Mini Golf
Llain Bytio

Looney Golf
Maes Golff
Magical Crazy Golf
Magical Golf
Magical Golf FX
Midgetgolfbaan
Mini Golf
Mini-Golf Garden
Mini Putting
Mini Sculpture Golf

Miniature Crazy Golf
Miniature Golf
Miniaturgolf
Miniaturegolf
Miniatvre Golf

Minigolf
Minigolff
NIFO Steel Minigolf
Novelty Golf
Obstacle Golf
Pit-Pat
Pit-Pat Table Golf

Pitch & Putt
Plonk Golf / Plonk! Golf
Portable Crazy Golf

Portable Minigolf
Portaputt

Putting
Putting Course
Putting Green
Putt Putt
Ratagolf
Realistic Miniature Golf
Retro Golf
Rock N Golf
Snookergolf
Super tech mini golf
Swedish Felt
Table Golf
Themed Golf
Woolly Golf / Wooly Golf

To see the full list of courses visited and played by us since September 2006 please check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course List Page.

Related blog post:

- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

Looney Golf in Bradford

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott.

You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.

Chrizy Golf in Manchester - for six weeks only!

A new Miniature Golf course has been set-up in Manchester for Christmas!

 

A recent blog post by the team at Putterfingers.co.uk alerted me to the fact there is a new Minigolf course (with a bar) in Manchester – Chrizy Golf!

 

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course and bar, run by Fluid bars, is located at Piccadilly Place in Manchester and is open from 12pm-11pm Monday to Saturday. From details I’ve seen the course takes advance bookings only, so check out the Chrizy Golf Facebook page for info.

 

But you’ll need to be quick if you want to play the course as its only open for a six-week run from the 12th of November until Christmas Eve!

 

'Chrizy Golf' is another new synonym for the game of 'Minigolf' - check out my blog post on "Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour", the Putter King post on "The Many Names of Miniature Golf" and the extensive list of "Miniature Golf Synonyms" compiled by Tim 'Ace Man' Davies at MiniatureGolfer.com.

 

The Chrizy Golf course will also be hosting a tournament – THE CHRIZY GOLF MASTERS! Keep an eye out on the Chrizy Golf Facebook page for more info.

 

Fingers crossed we’ll be able to make a trip to Manchester again this December. Emily and I had a nice day out there last year for the Birdies Pop Up Golf launch event and had a nice wander around the city’s Christmas Market.

 

The team at Chrizy Golf have been encouraging players to wear Christmassy and/or Golfy attire when they visit. I'll definitely be digging out my Christmas hat for a visit. It reminds me, I’ll need to buy a cheesy new Christmas Jumper ready for any Crimbo ‘do’s’ I go to this year!

 

Links:
- Chrizy Golf on Facebook
- Chrizy Golf on Twitter
- Fluid Bars
- Putterfingers.co.uk Blog Post "Festive Crazy Golf Competition anyone?"
- Eurocultured "Christmas Crazy Golf"
- Manchester Wire "Chrizy Golf pop-up bar opens at Piccadilly Place"

 

Related Blog Posts:
- Manchester related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files

- Christmas related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Mini Masters tournament
- Minigolf Report – Gottfrieds finish first and second in the Manchester Miniature Open tournament
- Revisit to Championship Miniature Golf at Trafford Golf Centre, Manchester
- Course #84 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Championship Miniature Golf
- Course #85 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Manchester (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Tiki Hut Trail)
- Course #86 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Manchester (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Temple Ruins Adventure)

- Birdies Pop Up Golf - Launch Event for a New Minigolf Business in Manchester