A look at different names for the game of miniature golf.
There are a number of different names for the game of miniature golf and on our crazy golfing adventures we've found more than 100 synonyms for it!
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.
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.
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| At The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England back in 2015 |
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.
