Minigolf Sport and Introduction
Minigolf Sport is a game in which players use putters to hit a Minigolf ball into holes on a Minigolf course, aiming to use the fewest strokes possible. A Minigolf course is very small (400-2500 square meters), consisting of 18 lanes each with a hole. There are a variety of obstacles set on the lanes to increase the difficulty of hitting the ball into the hole. This makes it more fun and also helps the players to improve their patience, physical strength, and agility.
(一) Origin of Minigolf
The origin of minigolf has been controversial, having various accounts of origination. Historical records have different claims of origin. From a timeline perspective, these are some theories:
(1) The theory of Swedish origin
In the 1930s, Harald Sjolund, from Sweden, built Sweden's first Minigolf course and officially named this sport “Minigolf “, where players could practice their ball hitting techniques.
(2) The theory of Mexican Origin
In 1922, Thomas McCulloch Fairborn, a Mexican who lived in England, built a small version of a golf course.
The surface was made from a mixture of crushed cottonseed husks and oil that was dyed into green concrete laid on a sand foundation. Fairborn patented this low-cost manufacturing method and created a company called "Miniature Golf Courses of America Inc."
(3) The theory of American origin
In 1916, James Barber of the United States, built his first Minigolf course on his estate in Pinewood Stadium, North Carolina. He named it "Thistle Du". Garnet Carter was the first American to apply for a patent for Minigolf. In 1927, he built a Minigolf course on his viewing deck in Tennessee, as tourist attraction for his hotel.
(4) The Theory of British Origin
June 8th 1912, is the earliest record of Minigolf in the United Kingdom, from the London News Pictorial citing a Minigolf course called Gofstacle. However, another record states the first Minigolf course in the United Kingdom began in 1920.
(5) The Theory of Scotland Origin
Sicne the 9th century, Minigolf has been in Scotland. This was 1867, the 30th year of Queen Victoria’s long reign.
In the 19th century Scottish Women viewed swinging a club over the shoulders and necks as an unspeakable offense to Christian values. As a result the Woman Minigolf Club was set up in St. Andrews.
(6)The Theory of French Origin
In the 15th century, Minigolf became popular in France. Some French art historians believe that, the scene of Pallemail ( hitting of a ball into the hole with a mallet) in the draft of the book “Time”, is a depiction of Minigolf. This was written by a French aristocrat between 1450 and 1460. Some also believe this is the origin of Minigolf in France. There were castles and windmills in the draft as well, although they were not obstacles. This manuscript is preserved in the library of Duke of Bourges Museum.
(7) Theory of Dutch origin
In the 13th century (1297 AD onwards), Minigolf increased in popularity in the Netherlands. Records show that city regulations granted that land could be used for Minigolf courses. Additionally, records show fines and confiscation of possessions for people who violated city security while playing Minigolf. These regulations testify to the history of Minigolf in the Netherlands.
However, looking at the earliest of Minigolf history, the most persuasive is the theory of Chinese origin:
The Theory of Chinese origin of Minigolf
The origins of Minigolf in China can be traced back as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279AD) in the book Dong Xuan Ji. The book records Minigold being played in 945 AD. An official from the Southern Tang Dynasty (937-975 AD) taught his daughter “to dig a hole in the ground, so that she could use a stick made of quince to push the ball into the hole.” The game described in the book is called Chui Wan, Chui means “hit”, Wan means “a little ball.”
Emperor Xuan De of the Ming Dynasty also loved the sport of “Chui Wan”. It was even popular amongst children during this time. For example, in the Northern Song Dynasty, when Xi Fu was young, he loved “hitting the Horn Ball", and his uncle Fan Zhongyan “disciplined him and he never listened”. The “Horn Ball” is a ball made of animal’s horn, that was not easy to break. This is evidence of the sport “Chui Wan” being very popular at that time.
In Chen Wanli's "Pottery Pillow", there is a Pottery Pillow with a picture of a child playing Chui Wan. The child is hitting a ball with a stick vividly. This is another good piece of evidence of the sport during this period. The sport reached a peak in popularity in the Yuan Dynasty and then gradually declined. The Yuan Dynasty was an era of large exchanges between the East and the West. Western culture increasingly adopted East Asian culture. In this movement, the sport was gradually introduced to Europe. This academic theory holds much merit to be the leading theory.
Minigolf is easy to learn, allowing a wide range of ages, with player ages ranging from 5 to 80 years old. It can be played as a competitive sport, and as a leisure activity. Minigolf has developed rapidly internationally, becoming popular in the 1920s to the 1930s. It was played and liked by various social classes, which included movie stars. This caused the sport to greatly increase in popularity. The first Minigolf competition tour in the US began in the late 1930s, with more than 200 players participating. Minigolf has rapidly gained popularity in Europe and the United States, becoming a popular and fashionable sport.
Minigolf flourished in the United States, developing later in Europe. Although later, Minigolf is the most popular in the European country of Germany. There are more than 4,000 Minigolf courses in Germany. And yearly, each course takes in more than 15 million people who travel and pay to play on their course. The total number of Minigolf player in Germany is greater than 13,000, ranking first in the world. According to statistics from the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), the number of professional Minigolf players has reached more than 30,000, and there are already more than 30,000 Minigolf Courses in the world.
(二) Minigolf Sport Characteristics
Standard Athletic: Minigolf sport is included in World Championships, European Championships, World Youth Championships and other regular Athletic Sports Events. It will soon enter the Olympic Games.
Occasions: It fits in family gatherings, friends sharing, parent-children time and, corporate team building.
Flexible venue: The layout of the venue can be arbitrarily arranged, removing site condition limitations.
Large age participation: It can cover all ages, 5 to 80 years old, is suitable for young children, and the whole family can participate.
Complete participation: Anyone can participate. People don’t need to bring equipment, and it can be learned very fast.
It can be designed to help with parent-children bonding, regular entertainment, training, competition, Electronic gaming, and equipment sales
(三) scene application
(四) Management organization
WMF (World Minigolf Sport Federation ), headquartered in Germany, is an international sports organization,
a member of GAISF(Sport Accord), and recognized as a member of AIMS by the International Olympic Committee.
WMF is the world’s leading sports management organization for Minigolf. The International Minigolf Sport Federation (IMF) was established in 1963. With its growth around the world, IMF was reorganized into the World Minigolf Sport Federation in 1993.
The Minigolf World Championship is held every other year. The World Youth Cup and the European Open are held every year. Every year, regions in different continents also hold different levels of Minigolf competitions. In addition to being a competitive sport, the WMF has long been committed to developing this sport into a public leisure sport.
Currently, there are 63 member-countries in the WMF, and there are agencies of Minigolf Sport leagues in most of the countries on different continents, such as the Asian Minigolf Federation (AMF), located in Thailand. The WMF has more than 5,000 official tournaments organized each year by its member associations or clubs. Minigolf has been listed in the World Games.
With the popularity and development of this sport, Minigolf has been declared an official game of the Olympics.
China's official management agency is the "Chinese Minigolf Promotion Conmmittee (CMPC)", which is under the leadership of the Social Sports Center, and in compliance with the requirements of the State General Administration of Sports. The Committee accepts the guidance and supervision of the Social Sport Center under the State General Administration of Sports. The constituent units and members of the Committee are the Social Sports Center of the State General Administration of Sport, provincial and local government sports management and guidance agencies, sports education and research institutions, related associations, media and publicity organizations, social sports capacity, enterprises, and etc. Minigolf is a popular sport for men and women of all ages. The Committee promotes Minigolf to various ethnic groups in the country, holds various domestic trainings and competitions. The Committee is in charge of selecting, cultivating, and training Minigolf teams to represent China in world and intercontinental competitions.
(五) Introduction to Minigolf competition and event classification
World, intercontinental and national Minigolf Tour Matches are held regularly every year. In Europe, there is an international competition for Minigolf nearly every week. The most famous Minigolf events are: World Championships, European Championships, European Cup, Asia Open Championship, World Adventure Golf Masters, etc.
(六) Introduction to the World Championships
The Minigolf World Championships was started by the World Minigolf League. It is held every two years. It holds up the highest standard, and is recognized as the most well-known official Minigolf Game, which represents the highest honor and level of Minigolf.
The 16th Minigolf World Championship was hosted by China. It was organized by Yuan Wang Group Kunming Wulian Industrial Park Co., Ltd. More than 400 athletes from 63 member countries gathered in Zhouzhuang, China from October 23rd to 27th in 2019. The Olympic TV Station reported the whole event. This was the first time the Minigolf World Championship was held outside of Europe, with the first fifteen championships being held in European countries.
