ModGolf Podcast: "It's All About The Putt!" Shaping The History and Future of Miniature Golf
In this epsiode of the ModGolf Podcast, show creator and host, Colin Weston, speaks with Scott Lundmark, the President of Adventure Golf & Sports.
"I joined the business over 16 years ago, but even before that my father would talk about potential clients saying. 'Well, I don't know if I want miniature golf at my Family Entertainment facility because it's kind of going out of style.' But miniature golf is one of those activities and attractions that will never go out of style."
- Scott Lundmark, President of Adventure Golf & Sports
Miniature Golf Fun Facts...
There are 4,383 Miniature golf courses in the United States as of September 2023. The earliest documented mention of a miniature golf course is in the June 8, 1912 edition of The Illustrated London News, referring to a minigolf course called The Golfstacle. Even earlier, William Senhouse Clarke patented the 'Golfstacle' box kit in 1907.
The first miniature golf course in Canada was at the Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. The "Mapes" was constructed as a summer home in the 1890s but was renovated into a club in 1902, opened to the public in 1914, and had a miniature golf course in 1930. The popular nightspot burned in 1985.
To listen to this podcast click HERE or on the image below.
Parkside's Whispering Pines Miniature Golf is the oldest miniature golf course in the United States. This historic gem has been entertaining visitors since its opening in 1930. Fifty-one countries have National Minigolf Association governing bodies which are part of The World Minigolf Sport Federation.
"Our business in booming right now. In fact it has grown consistently over the years and with the addition of Putt Shack, PopStroke and The Puttery, combined with the explosion of craft breweries there has been a flood of money pouring in the marketplace for miniature golf. Part of the reason is because it's attactive to all ages from six year old children all the way to great-grandparents."
- Scott Lundmark