With Miniature Golf Day on the horizon, we figured it would be a great opportunity to talk about golf and how you could set up your own miniature golf course in your park.
The history of Miniature Golf Day
While the history of Miniature Golf Day is unknown, the history of the activity itself goes as far as the 19th century. It began as an acceptable modified version of golf for Victorian women.
In Victorian-era Scotland, it was deemed improper for a lady to “raise a golf club above their shoulder level,” making regular golf practically impossible to play.
According to Holidays Calendar, the Ladies’ Putting Club of St. Andrews developed this modified version of golf. By the 1930s, mini golf became popularized after it reached America.
How to set up a miniature golf course in your park
To be sure, a miniature golf course is an excellent kid-friendly and year-round activity. And why leave the fun of miniature golf to solely the kids? Adults love it too! It’s fun for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Why you should do it
It’s not just about Miniature Golf Day, as stated above. This is great, year-round fun for your park! A miniature golf park is an excellent addition to your park’s amenities. It adds recreational value to your park and provides a bonus marketable feature for your mobile home park.
Another benefit of a miniature golf course in the park is that it will get residents off the couch and on their feet. They’ll be up and moving without realizing it because they’re having so much fun. Who doesn’t love a little competitive fun?
See about permits
Before you do a thing, reach out to your local government and see what permits, inspections, or license fees are put upon you. This will vary from location to location, depending on where you live.
This research can make or break a project. But that’s OK. It’s better to find out now before you’re knee deep in commitment to your project.
Look into insurance
Contact your park’s insurance provider. See how the addition of a miniature golf course will affect your insurance. It’s good to gather all the facts before you begin.
Design the course
Now it’s time to start planning your golf course. The overall design will be affected by how much space you have allocated for it.
Keep in mind, that depending on the atmosphere of your park, you may want to design a course with a high curb appeal. Meaning, don’t make it look like an amusement park. You could simply employ design tactics that have it blending in with the rest of your park’s landscape.
Rather than cheap wood for the borders of one hole, use landscaping rocks or nice wood. Leverage the original landscape in your favor so you won’t have to do too many modifications as far as re-adjusting the height of the ground and such.
Don’t go for gaudy decor. Incorporate unique plants or outdoor antiques that look classy, it will definitely help.
You just need to consider your park. If your park is geared towards families with kids, then a more kiddie vibe with vibrant colors is what you should go for. It’s up to you.
Call contractors and landscapers
Now it’s time to call contractors and landscapers. See who has had experience in building miniature golf courses. Share your vision and see if they can help you come up with the idea plan. Once something is finalized, set them to work.
If you’re the “do it yourself” type, at least consider using professionals to help you come up with a plan. You don’t want to have a committed mess on your hands. If planned poorly, your golf course will pool with water, be more complicated than you wish or cause other problems.
Golfing meant for everyone
Miniature Golf Day highlights the fun of playing miniature golf. It’s a sport that’s crossed cultures and oceans and we hope it crosses into your park. As stated above, its benefits to park residents are invaluable.
But that’s up to you. Do your research and count the cost. Is it worth it to have the extra amenity in your park? We hope this general overview helps you get started in the pursuit of a miniature golf course.
We mentioned kid-friendly mobile home parks. If you’re still setting up your park or in the process of scouting out a park to purchase, consider these tips on how to run a kid-friendly park. Thinking in terms of kid-friendliness is paramount if you’re targeting families for your park.
About Dan Leighton
