How to Design a Miniature Golf Course
Anyone can plan a miniature golf course, but it takes careful planning and creativity to design a course that is challenging, playable and structurally sound. A good miniature golf course is one that people come back to play time and time again. The current trend in miniature golf courses is moving away from obstacles like windmills and loop-the-loops; modern miniature golf courses are designed around challenging breaks and bounces on the greens along with water hazards and sand traps. Unique challenges such as those are the foundation for any successful miniature golf course.
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Instructions
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Designing the Course
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1
Determine the ground area available for the miniature golf course. Survey that space taking into account natural features that can be used, such as slopes, inclines or water.
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2
Sketch an outline of the area on a piece of graph paper; label any natural features noted in Step 1.
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3
Designate areas for each of the 18 holes on the outline. Try to mix hole length, bring in water whenever a hole borders it and use elevation and water as a means to provide an illusion of space between holes.
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4
Go hole by hole and decide on the design and layout as well as the type of shot required to complete the hole. Be sure to mix up both difficulty of shot and type of shot on consecutive holes. For example, don't have two bank shots in a row. Instead, add a sequence of a bank shot, a hole requiring accuracy, a hole with lots of breaks or undulations; this is merely an example, and there is no perfect sequence and the lay of the land can play a large role in hole sequences. Keep in mind easy and hard holes should me intermixed to promote a steady pace of play and to prevent congestion on the harder holes.
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5
Ask someone for a second opinion on your course design. They don't have to be an expert; in fact, the intended player is most likely not an expert in miniature golf course design, so feedback from one or multiple outside parties regardless of their background will be constructive.
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6
Make any modifications brought up in the opinion sessions. Repeat Step 5 if desired, but remember, when there is ambiguity in the feedback, go with your instinct.
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Tips & Warnings
Play on several miniature golf courses before beginning to design, and make a note of their positive attributes.
