What is the difference between miniature golf and golf?

Golf and miniature golf share a name and a basic idea: getting a ball into a hole with as few strokes as possible. However, anyone familiar with both sports knows that the similarities quickly end there. Different balls, different clubs, different courses, different rules, different costs.

In this article, you'll get a clear, factual comparison of the two sports. So you know what unites them, what separates them, and which one is right for you.

 

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The miniature golf outfitter for pros and beginners -

 

 

Table of Contents

• The Common Origin
• The Most Important Differences at a Glance
• The Playing Surface
• The Balls
• The Clubs
• The Stroke
• Scoring and Competition
• Costs and Accessibility
• Is Miniature Golf Easier Than Golf?
• Conclusion

 

1. The Common Origin

Golf is the clear predecessor. The first written mention dates back to 1457, when the Scottish Parliament under King James II banned the game because it distracted the populace from archery. The ban was only lifted in 1502. Modern golf, with 18 holes, fixed rules, and the Old Course in St. Andrews, developed over the following centuries.

Miniature golf emerged much later, but also with a clear connection to golf. In 1953, the Swiss landscape architect Paul Bongni invented the first standardized miniature golf system with 12-meter concrete courses. In 1956, the Hamburg businessman Albert-Rolf Pless followed with the Miniature Golf system and its 6.25-meter Eternit courses. Both systems aimed to make golf accessible to cities and everyone.

Golf and miniature golf share a basic idea: getting a ball into a hole with as few strokes as possible. However, the path to achieving this differs in the two sports.

Important to understand: Miniature golf is not a "children's version" of golf, but an independent sport with its own rules, associations, and world championships.

 

2. The Most Important Differences at a Glance

Before we go into detail, here's a compact overview:

Criterion	Golf	Miniature Golf
Playing Surface	Natural course, 5-7 km, 60-80 hectares	Compact course, usually under 1,000 m²
Courses	18 holes, each different	18 lanes, standardized depending on the system
Lane Length	100 to 500+ meters	6 to 18 meters
Ball Diameter	min. 42.67 mm	37 to 43 mm
Ball Weight	max. 45.93 g	under 120 g
Number of Balls per Round	usually one ball	often a different ball for each lane with different rolling properties
Clubs	up to 14 different	a single putter (exception: lane 7 on concrete)
Shot Distance	up to almost 300 m	max. 18 m
Scoring	Par system	absolute number of strokes, max. 7 per lane
Entry	Course approval required	immediately accessible

 

3. The Playing Surface

The most striking difference lies in the size of the playing area. An 18-hole golf course usually stretches over 5 to 7 kilometers and requires 60 to 80 hectares of land. The courses themselves (called "holes" in golf) are between 100 and over 500 meters long and are characterized by natural obstacles such as water, bunkers (sand traps), trees, and tall grass (rough).

Sand areas (called bunkers) are a popular obstacle on golf courses

A miniature golf course fits on a fraction of this area. Depending on the system, the lanes are between 2 and 18 meters long. The surface is standardized and artificial: concrete, Eternit (fiber cement), felt, or artificial turf. You can find out exactly which systems exist in our overview "What are the variants of miniature golf?".

A typical Eternit miniature golf course, this one is located in Malmö, Sweden.

Golf therefore requires a connection to nature, movement, and long distances. Miniature golf is compact, urban, and takes only a few minutes to get from one lane to the next.

 

4. The Balls

The golf ball is highly regulated: minimum 42.67 mm diameter, maximum 45.93 g weight, with characteristic dimples (small indentations) for flight stability. These values have remained almost unchanged since 1921 and are uniform worldwide.

Golf balls have a uniform size, are usually white, and are easily recognizable by their characteristic dimples.

Miniature golf balls offer significantly more leeway: 37 to 43 mm diameter, under 120 g weight. Within this range, there are countless variations in hardness, rebound height, and surface. The crucial difference from golf: In golf, you play the entire round with one ball, in miniature golf often with a different ball for each lane.

The reason lies in the variety of lanes: A jump ramp requires a different ball than a straight rolling lane. Club players therefore usually have 10 to 30 different balls in their bag, matched to the lane and weather conditions. Professionals sometimes have up to a thousand different balls. A filterable selection of WMF-licensed balls can be found in our ball assortment. You can learn more about licensing in "Which miniature golf balls are allowed in tournaments? The WMF license list explained.".

Miniature golf balls come in countless variations, and players can freely choose which ball to play. This is a central strategic element in miniature golf, and professional players have a wide selection of balls.

 

5. The Clubs

A golfer carries up to 14 different clubs in their bag: drivers for tee shots, fairway woods for long shots, irons for medium distances, wedges for the rough and bunkers, and a putter for the green. Each club has a specific purpose.

The golf bag comes in various designs and carries up to 14 clubs, which are needed for different shot situations.

In miniature golf, you only need a single club, which basically resembles a golf putter but has a rubber hitting surface. This rubber (up to 2 cm thick) compensates for the different ball properties and enables controlled shots over short distances. You can find a selection in our club assortment.

A classic miniature golf putter with a characteristic rubber hitting surface

Exception: On the long shot lane in the concrete system (lane 7), some club players use a second club with different characteristics. However, this is an absolute exception.

 

6. The Stroke

Golf has many different types of strokes: the tee shot with the driver (up to almost 300 m far), the fairway shot, the chip from the short grass, the bunker shot from the sand, and the putt on the green. Each type of stroke requires its own technique, power, and practice.

The driver shot: powerful, loud, and designed for distances up to almost 300 meters.

Miniature golf is almost exclusively limited to putts. But these putts are challenging: they must be precise, with exactly the right stroke strength, often taking into account bands, inclines, and obstacles. Where golf is decided over long distances, miniature golf is decided over millimeters.

The miniature golf putt is similar to the golf putt on the green, but with a crucial difference: the miniature golf putter has a rubber striking surface, the golf putter does not.

Another difference: golf shots are unique, each shot stands on its own. In miniature golf, however, you often repeat the same lane in several rounds per tournament, the same obstacles, the same angles. The challenge lies in repeatability at the highest level.

 

7. Scoring and Competition

In both sports, the winner is the one with the lowest score at the end. But the scoring system is different.

Golf uses the par system: Each hole has a predetermined ideal number of strokes (usually Par 3, 4, or 5), which guides the result. A "birdie" is one stroke under par, a "bogey" is one stroke over par. The handicap system allows for fair comparisons between players of different strengths.

Miniature golf has no par, but an absolute maximum of 7 strokes per lane. If you don't reach the target after 6 strokes, you get 7 points. The score is the absolute number of strokes. On 18 lanes, a perfect round would be 18 strokes, meaning an ace on every lane. You can find more about the rules in "The most important miniature golf rules explained".

Both sports have their world federations and world championships: Golf through the R&A and the USGA, miniature golf through the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

 

8. Costs and Accessibility

Golf has significantly higher entry barriers. To play on most courses, you need a course permit, a kind of driver's license for the golf course. A green fee (admission for one round) often costs between 40 and 100 Euros, depending on the course. Basic equipment with a set of clubs, bag, and accessories quickly amounts to a four-figure sum.

Miniature golf is much more accessible: A round on a public course usually costs between 5 and 10 Euros. There is no course permit and no admission requirements. A beginner's set with a club and balls is available from about 100 Euros. If you want to play in a club, you can find the relevant information in "From Hobby to Club: How to Become a Miniature Golf Club Player in Germany".

 

9. Is Miniature Golf Easier Than Golf?

The honest answer: no, just different. Both sports are extremely challenging at a professional level, but they require different skills.

Golf requires power for the drive, technique for different types of shots, stamina for long rounds over several hours, and a good eye for distances of 100 meters and more.

Miniature golf requires extreme precision, a deep understanding of the courses, material knowledge about different balls, and the ability to repeat the same shot hundreds of times.

What they both have in common: Getting started is easy, mastering takes a lifetime.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Miniature Golf vs. Golf

Is miniature golf an Olympic sport?
No. Golf has been an Olympic sport again since 2016, but miniature golf is not yet. However, the World Minigolf Sport Federation has been working for years on Olympic recognition and is already a member of AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport).

Can I play golf with a miniature golf club?
Only to a limited extent. A miniature golf club resembles a golf putter, but has a rubber hitting surface. You could theoretically use it for putting on the green, but it is not suitable for tee shots or long shots.

Which sport is older?
Golf. The first written mention dates back to 1457. Miniature golf emerged significantly later, with the first standardized systems from 1953 (concrete) and 1956 (miniature golf).

Is miniature golf cheaper than golf?
Significantly. A round of miniature golf usually costs between 5 and 15 Euros, while a round of golf often costs between 40 and 100 Euros. The equipment is also cheaper for miniature golf: A beginner's set is available from about 100 Euros, while golf can quickly incur four-figure sums.

As a golfer, can I play mini golf well straight away?
A little better than a complete beginner, but not a guaranteed success. Golfers have a good feel for the ball, but often underestimate the precision requirements and the role of the right ball. The reverse is also true: mini golfers have an advantage when putting, but often struggle with long shots.

From what age can you play mini golf?
Virtually from any age at which a child can hold a club. Many mini golf clubs have children's and youth groups from the age of 6. Golf, with the necessary course proficiency and long rounds, is more practical from adolescence.

 

Continue reading on One Putt Minigolf

• What are the different types of mini golf?
• From hobby to club: How to become a mini golf club player
• Which mini golf balls are allowed in tournaments? The WMF license list explained
• The most important mini golf rules explained
• What does the red line mean in mini golf?

 

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The mini golf outfitter for professionals and beginners -