From Hobby to Club: How to Become a Mini Golf Club Player in Germany

You enjoy playing minigolf – perhaps on vacation, or regularly at the park with friends. And at some point, the question arises: Is there more to it? Real clubs, real balls, maybe even competitions?

The answer: Yes. Minigolf in Germany is an officially organized sport with over 200 clubs, its own leagues up to the Bundesliga, and national teams that regularly win world championships. In this article, you'll learn how to transition from a hobby player to a club player – what it costs, how to find a club, and what awaits you there.

 

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The Minigolf Equipment Supplier for Professionals and Beginners -

 

Table of Contents

• In Brief: How to become a Minigolf Club Player?
• Explained in Detail
  • Minigolf is an Official Sport in Germany
  • How Club Minigolf is Structured
  • What Happens in a Club?
  • What Game Formats are There?
  • What Does it All Cost?
  • For Parents: Minigolf with Children in a Club
  • How Far Can You Go? The Squad System
  • How to Find a Club Near You
  • What Equipment Do You Need to Start?
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Explained in Detail

 

1. Minigolf is an Official Sport

What many don't know: Minigolf is an officially recognized sport by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). The professional association is called the German Minigolf Sports Federation (DMV), was founded in Cologne in 1966, and is now based in Troisdorf. The DMV currently oversees around 8,300 members in approximately 218 clubs across Germany (as of 2023, current figures on minigolfsport.de).

This might sound like dry federation information, but it's relevant to you because it means there are fixed rules, standardized course systems, approved facilities, and a clear competition calendar from club tournaments to world championships. Those who play in a club don't just "play minigolf" – they are part of a system that extends to the international elite. German national teams have been among the most successful in the world in minigolf for years.

 

2. How Club Minigolf is Structured in Germany

The structure is clear and follows three levels:

Federation structure of minigolf in Germany: DMV / DMJ (umbrella organization) → 13 regional federations → over 200 local clubs

 

DMV / DMJ (Umbrella Organization)

The German Minigolf Sports Federation (DMV) is the umbrella organization for minigolf in Germany. Among other things, it organizes and regulates league play, the training of coaches and referees, and the further development of the sport. The German Minigolf Youth (DMJ) is responsible for youth work. It organizes national youth league play and promotes children and young people in minigolf. Regular events and further training workshops on various topics such as social engagement, inclusion, prevention of sexual violence, etc., are also organized. 

Both the DMV and the DMJ are members of the international federations World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) and European Minigolf Sport Federation (EMF). Through this, they represent Germany at European and World Championships and are responsible for organizing the German national teams.

Both the DMV and the DMJ have their own boards and committees. The 13 state associations are involved in the federation's work and represent the interests of minigolf in their respective regions.

 

Regional Federations 

The 13 regional federations organize league play in their respective regions and provide coaches and state squads for national championships. Some regional federations cover a single federal state (such as the Bavarian Minigolf Sports Federation or the North Rhine-Westphalian Miniature Golf Federation), while others combine several regions (Berlin-Brandenburg, Bremen/Lower Saxony). Baden and Württemberg, however, are organized separately.

Here is an overview of all regional federations in the DMV:

Abbreviation	Regional Federation	Region
BBS	Baden Miniature Golf Sports Federation	Baden
BMV	Bavarian Minigolf Sports Federation	Bavaria
BVBB	Miniature Golf Federation Berlin-Brandenburg	Berlin, Brandenburg
BVSA	Miniature Golf Federation Saxony-Anhalt	Saxony-Anhalt
BVS	Miniature Golf Federation Saxony	Saxony
HBSV	Hessian Miniature Golf Sports Federation	Hesse
HBV	Hamburg Miniature Golf Federation	Hamburg
MRP	Minigolf Sports Federation Rhineland-Palatinate	Rhineland-Palatinate
MVBN	Minigolf Sports Federation Bremen/Lower Saxony	Bremen, Lower Saxony
NBV	North Rhine-Westphalian Miniature Golf Federation	North Rhine-Westphalia
SaarMV	Saarland Minigolf Sports Federation	Saarland
SHMV	Schleswig-Holstein Minigolf Sports Federation	Schleswig-Holstein
WBV	Württemberg Miniature Golf Sports Federation	Württemberg

Clubs within Germany  

Your entry point is almost always through a local club, which in turn is a member of the regional federation. As a player, you are then automatically integrated into the entire system through your club: training sessions, local tournaments, league play, regional championships, German championships – all from one source. In total, there are 218 official clubs (as of 2023, current figures on minigolfsport.de). 

You can get an insight into minigolf as a club sport in the video linked below.

From hobby to club sport. The official image video of the German Minigolf Youth in the German Minigolf Sports Federation e.V.

 

3. What Happens in a Club?

Club minigolf shares only the courses with casual family minigolf. In a club, you can expect:

• Regular training at the club's own or assigned facility, usually several times a week. Many clubs have coaches with official DOSB licenses who teach you technique, bank shots, and course reading. You'll learn why the same shot on the same course works differently at 12 degrees than at 28 degrees.
• League play as the core: From regional league level up to the 1st Bundesliga, there is a continuous promotion and relegation system with three Bundesliga tiers, each divided into North and South. The season starts in spring and runs into autumn.
• Tournaments across the country: Trophy tournaments, Welcome Cups for beginners, cup tournaments, ranking tournaments. You don't have to play in the Bundesliga to compete regularly – even hobby-oriented club players have a full tournament calendar.
• Community – this sounds like a cliché, but it is indeed a defining aspect of minigolf. Many clubs have a familial atmosphere, with everything from 12-year-old children to players over 70.

 

4. What Game Formats are There?

The umbrella organization covers various course systems, and that's one of the most exciting aspects of club sports: you don't just play "minigolf," but one (or more) of the following systems:

System	Characteristics
Miniaturgolf	The classic short eternit courses that you are not allowed to step on
Concrete (Bahnengolf)	Medium-length concrete courses with challenging obstacles
Feltgolf	Long courses with carpet surfaces, particularly popular in Scandinavia
Adventuregolf	Creatively designed themed courses on artificial turf, officially standardized since 2026
Cobigolf & Sterngolf	Smaller competition systems with their own German championships
Minigolf Open Standard (MOS)	Non-standardized courses

Which system your local club plays depends on the course near you. Most club players eventually become active on multiple systems – this is also necessary, as German championships are generally held alternately on two different systems.

The typical green courses with felt surfaces, seen on many minigolf courses today, belong to the Feltgolf system. It originated in Sweden in the first half of the 20th century and spread to Germany from the 1990s onwards.

We have a complete blog article that delves deeper into the different variations here: "What are the different variants of minigolf?"

5. What Does it All Cost?

A legitimate question that holds back many newcomers. The honest answer: significantly less than most people think.

• Club fee: Varies greatly depending on the club, but is usually between 4 and 15 Euros per month for adults and significantly less for children and teenagers.
• Playing authorization with the DMV: 8.75 Euros per year per active player. This officially qualifies you for tournaments and you regularly receive the federation magazine (4 times a year) with the latest news from the minigolf scene.
• Equipment: This depends on how serious you are. A decent beginner's club and a small set of balls are completely sufficient for the first few seasons. You can find more about equipment for beginners in our blog article: Which Minigolf Starter Set is Right? The Big Beginner's Guide or browse directly in our online shop – One Putt Minigolf. 
• Tournament entry fees: Local club tournaments are usually inexpensive (set by the host clubs), between 3 and 30 Euros. German Championships cost from about 75 Euros per player. Sometimes costs are also covered by the club – but this only becomes an issue if you qualify.

Ultimately, the federation fee (8.75 €) and your club fee together usually amount to about 50 to 180 Euros per year. Equipment is a one-time expense and ranges from about 40 to 200 Euros depending on professionalism.

 

6. For Parents: Minigolf with Children in a Club

If you want to get your child involved in a minigolf club, it's a pretty smart move – for several reasons.

Minigolf is one of the few sports where children can train equally with adults on the same course from the start. Concentration, precision, self-control, and mental strength are all fostered. The risk of injury is minimal.

For children, miniature golf is a great sport where they can quickly play at eye level with adults.

Within the DMV, as already mentioned, there is the German Minigolf Sports Youth (DMJ). It is part of the German Sports Youth (dsj), has its own general assembly as the highest body, an elected youth board, and youth spokespersons (minimum age 16, under 23 when elected). This means that young people have a real say, not just a children's program.

The values of the DMJ are clearly formulated: personal development, co-determination, protection against all forms of violence including sexualized assault, inclusion, and equality. The DMV has appointed its own contact persons for the prevention of sexualized violence – this is not self-evident and should still be a point you specifically address when choosing a club.

Their own youth championships, the Youth State Cup, and international youth competitions ensure that children also have a sporting path if they are ambitious.

 

7. How far can you go? The squad system

Those who are ambitious have a clear path to the top. The DMV supports around 55 spots in the official national squad – divided into five levels and age groups:

Youth (up to 19 years) 

State Squad (LK)	The first official level, nominated by the state association. Development squad at state level for talented young players with potential for higher national squad levels.
D/C Squad	First nationwide development level for talented young players.
Junior Squad 2 (NK2)	Nationwide support for players who already belong to the national elite of their age group.
Junior Squad 1 (NK1)	Nationwide support for players who belong to the national elite of their age group and have already participated in international competitions as part of the German national team.

 

General Class (20 - 45 years) 

Prospect Squad (PK)	Nationwide support for national top players with a realistic prospect of joining the WC squad and winning international medals.
World Class Squad (WK)	Nationwide support for Germany's most successful players with proven world-class level.

 

Seniors (46 years and older) 

Prospect Squad (PK)	Nationwide support for national top players with a realistic prospect of joining the WC squad and winning international medals.
World Class Squad (WK)	Nationwide support for Germany's most successful players with proven world-class level.

 

What is realistic? Nobody starts in the national squad. Realistically: if you join as a child or young adult with talent and ambition and train consistently, you can reach the level of the state squad within a year. A modern aspect on the side: female athletes who take a break due to pregnancy can return to the prospect squad up to three years later without renewed qualification. The association has visibly caught up here in recent years.

However, the special thing about miniature golf is that it is relatively age-independent, and you also have a realistic chance to get into the national squad and qualify for world and European championships as an adult and even as a senior. Of course, this requires reaching this performance level through training and discipline.

 

8. How to find a club near you

There are two simple ways:

🔵 Via the DMV club list: On minigolfsport.de you will find an overview of all German clubs, sorted by postal code. Each entry contains contact persons, facility address, and the system played.

🔵 Via your state association: The websites of the 13 state associations often provide more precise information on local training opportunities and trial sessions. An overview of all state associations with contact details can also be found on minigolfsport.de.

What you should do before you register:

• Just drop by a training session (most clubs are happy to welcome visitors)
• Ask about a trial membership or a trial training session
• Check out the facility: Is it reachable for you? Which system is played?
• Talk to members – does the atmosphere suit you?

 

9. What equipment do you need to get started?

Unlike regular golf, you only need one club – but several balls. The club should match your height, and the grip should fit your hand size. Balls are the heart of your game: different hardness, bounce height, and surface determine how the ball behaves on certain courses and in certain weather conditions.

An important difference to hobby minigolf: For official club tournaments, only licensed balls are allowed. The DMV maintains a list of approved models – if you want to play competitively, you won't get far with rented balls from the counter. This is not a problem, but an opportunity: club balls are specially tuned to course behavior, and you will quickly notice how much more precise your game becomes with them.

For the very first start, a set of club and a few beginner balls is often sufficient. Once you play regularly in the club, you will expand your assortment course by course. Tip: Ask experienced club colleagues which balls are suitable for your home course – that saves money. Especially at the beginning, you can often borrow the necessary equipment from your club and your club colleagues. 

At this point, we would like to refer to the starter set from Fun-Sports with putter, bag and 5 Fun-Sports balls. A good start for beginners.

If you want to get started, you'll find everything you need for joining a club at One Putt Minigolf – from beginner putters (adjusted to your height) to licensed tournament balls and complete sets with bags.

 

 

Frequently asked questions: Becoming a minigolf club player

How much does it cost to play in a minigolf club?
The club membership fee is usually in the two to three-digit range per year for adults, significantly lower for children and young people. In addition, there is the DMV playing license of 8.75 euros per year. Overall, most players end up with around 50 to 180 euros in fixed costs annually – about 4 to 15 euros per month. Equipment is a one-time purchase: Starter sets are available at One Putt Minigolf from 123.00 Euros (including club, ball bag, and 5 different balls). Further purchases of balls may be added over time, depending on playing ambition.

Do I need prior experience to join a minigolf club?
No. Most clubs explicitly welcome beginners and offer trial training sessions. More important than skill is the willingness to train regularly and commit to the sport.

From what age can children join a club?
This depends on the club, but many accept children from around 8 years old. The German Minigolf Sports Youth (DMJ) is aimed at all age groups up to 19 years, has its own structures with elected youth spokespersons, and offers regular workshops for the development and protection of young people. 

How do I find out if there's a club near me?
On minigolfsport.de, you'll find a club list, sorted by postal code. Alternatively, you can directly visit the website of your state association.

What equipment do I need at the beginning?
A club of the right length and a small set of balls are enough to get started. Those who want to play in official tournaments will later need licensed tournament balls – these differ significantly from the rented balls at leisure minigolf. A guide to beginner equipment can be found in our blog article: Which minigolf starter set is right? The big beginner's guide.

What is the difference between club minigolf and recreational minigolf?
In a club, you play by official rules, on approved courses, with your own equipment, and with regular training. There is a full tournament calendar and league play up to the Bundesliga – instead of a summer round in the park, you get a full-fledged sports activity with a clear development path.

 

Read more on One Putt Minigolf

• Which minigolf starter set is right? The big beginner's guide.
• The most important minigolf rules explained
• What does the red line mean in minigolf?

 

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The minigolf supplier for professionals and beginners -