The Minigolf course has 18 clearly marked lanes, which are numbered and must be in accordance with the standard rules of their system.
A tournament-approved lane contains:
- the actual playing area,
- the boundary (usually barriers),
- the marked teeing-off area,
- one or more obstacles (optional),
- the border line (optional) in red paint,
- helping lines (optional) doted in black paint,
- repositioning markings (optional on MOS) in black paint,
- the target (hole or other lane-specifically defined target),
- further possible system-specific components markings.
The measures of the playing area are defined in the system specific rules.
If the boundary is not marked by a barrier, it has to be marked in some other way. Boundaries have to be clearly visible for the purposes of play.
Every lane must have a marked teeing-off area. The markings in a course or a system must be standardized.
Obstacles must be functional in construction and design. They must be fixed for the purposes of play. Moveable parts, over or through which the ball is supposed to pass, are not allowed. Unfixed obstacles must be marked as such. Any decorations should not impair their functional value. Every obstacle must be different from the others in the same course, not only outwardly but also from a playing point of view. At the same time its effects must be calculable.
The border line marks how far the ball must travel at least from the teeing-off area to remain in play. If the first obstacle takes up the whole width of the playing area, the end of the obstacle line is regarded as the border line. The border line must be identical with the end of the obstacle. The border line has been correctly passed, if the ball has passed the border line with its point of contact. Lanes which are only playable from the teeing-off area have no border line.
The helping line marks the end of any obstacle after the border line. It defines the direction in which the ball may be repositioned. The helping line has been passed, if the ball has passed the helping line with its point of contact.
Measurements of distance for markings include the markings themselves.
Where the repositioning of a ball in play is permissible, there must be (optional for MOS) markings. The marking indicates where the ball can be placed according to the general rules for the repositioning.
The diameter of the target (if it is a hole) must not exceed 120 mm. The sizes of other targets than holes are defined in system-specific rules.
Markings must be in accordance with the standard rules.
For the standardized systems concrete, Miniaturegolf and Feltgolf an exact drawing of each lane with appropriate description must exist. The standard rules must be clearly interpretable from the drawings. For every part of a lane there must be standardized rules and where necessary construction regulations. The standard rules, including drawings of the different CMPC-approved systems, are summarized in additional chapters, which are part of these rules.
A course is eligible for national tournaments, if it is approved by CMPC. The approval rules for tournament Minigolf courses are listed in an additional chapter, which is part of these rules.
It is not permitted to make any changes to the lanes (e.g. drilling of holes). Neither is permitted for players or coaches to make any markings on or near the lanes with writing implements, putters or other objects before or during the tournament. However, attaching small paper or plastic rings is allowed in the tee-off area. It is also allowed to remove these rings, if player feels they disturb the play. In the repositioning areas, these rings are allowed temporarily only, to prevent the ball from rolling away.
The head referee decides if a lane is playable or not (e.g. due to defects or weather conditions). If more than 6 of the 18 lanes are not playable, the course is considered to be not playable. In special cases fewer than 12 different lanes can be played to have a round of 12 lanes (some lanes are played twice), if the tournament schedule and format allow for this (e.g. matchplay).