Dear Scott,
Here's what I found out:
1. HISTORY
Pro MiniGolf History of Miniature Golf:
http://www.usprominigolfassn.com/history.html
History of the Pro Putters Association -
http://www.proputters.com/history/history.htm
2. REAL-GRASS PUTTING COURSES
There are quite a number of real-grass putting courses in the US, termed "Championship Putting Courses," and most of them seem to be in the Northwest, especially Washington. These links indicate where the CPCs are located. You may wish to contact some of them directly for more information about design, maintenance, and land-use costs and issues. From what I can tell, about 2 acres is needed for an 18-hole CPC. One reference is for 3 acres, one for 2 acres, and one says the course is 1,435 feet long (18-hole par 54).
Enzian Falls CPC, Leavenworth WA -
http://www.enzianinn.com/Golf.index.html
Enzian Falls CPC, Leavenworth WA -
http://www.nwgolfmap.com/getcourse.asp?ID=46
Whitewater Falls at Horseshoe Bay CPC, near Austin TX -
http://www.hsbcorp.com/whitewater.htm
Willows Run CPC, Redmond WA -
http://www.willowsrun.com/home.asp?courseid=75
Lancaster PA Bentgrass CPC -
http://www.leisurelanespa.com/putting.htm
Arrowood Resort CPC, Alexandria MN -
http://www.arrowwoodresort.com/puttingcourse/index.cfm
Kayak Point CPC, Stanwood WA -
http://www.kayakpoint.com/putting_course.asp
Big EZ Lodge CPC, Big Sky MT -
http://www.iaccnorthamerica.org/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=ReleaseView&ID=59
World Golf Village CPC, St Augustine FL -
http://www.wgv.com/hof/hof.html
World Golf Village CPC, St Augustine FL -
http://www.worldgolfrenaissance.com/meetings_fame.html
World Golf Village CPC, St Augustine FL -
http://www.globeandmail.com/travel/stories/globe/shrine.html
Golf Mountain "outdoor lighted putting course" ?, Boise ID -
http://www.ohwy.com/id/g/golfmoun.htm
Boyne Mountain 9-hole CPC, Boyne City MI -
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/3582.html
Hilton Waikoloa "Seaside putting course" ?, Big Island, Hawaii -
http://www.hiltonhawaii.com/hwv.html
Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland -
http://www.vacationidea.com/articles/turnberry_resort.html
Arizona Biltmore Resort "18 hole putting course" ?, Phoenix AZ -
http://www.unitedvacations.com/cgi-bin/hotelcontrol/IUVHotel.asp?alone=false&code=PHXBILT%5E%5E%5E
Running Y Ranch "player's putting course" ?, Klamath Falls, OR -
http://www.privatecommunities.com/oregon/
Sandestin Beach Golf Resort Dunes CPC, Destin FL -
http://www.sandestinbeachhilton.com/golf.html#putt
The Green at Grant Park, Chicago's Putting Course, Chicago IL -
http://www.thegreenonline.com/
Kapalua Village Putting Course, Maui, Hawaii -
http://kapaluamaui.com/golf/putting.html
Mount Juliet Golf Course CPC, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland -
http://www.irishgolftravel.co.uk/mountjuliet.htm
Kelowna CPC, Lake Onanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada -
http://www.19greenskelowna.com/
Red Hawk GC Hale Irwin CPC, Sparks NV (Lake Tahoe) -
http://www.golfthehighsierra.com/guide/displaycourse.php?resortid=12
Rock Chapel Golf Centre 18-hole bentgrass CPC, Dundas, Ontario, Canada -
http://www.tee-off.ca/courses/on679.htm
Rum Pointe 3-hole putting course, Ocean City MD -
http://www.rumpointe.com/details.html
The Farm, 18-hole bentgrass CPC, Snohomish WA -
http://www.thefarm1.com/golf.htm
Canyon Lakes CPC, Kennewick WA -
http://www.canyonlakesgolfcourse.com/index.asp?id=8
Desert Canyon Golf Resort CPC, orondo WA -
http://www.canyonlakesgolfcourse.com/index.asp?id=8
Don Morse Park CPC, Lake Chelan WA -
http://www.campbellsresort.com/index.php?page_id=34
Golf Club Thumersee CPC, Thunersee, Switzerland -
http://www.swiss-golf.ch/
Angel Park Golf Club CPC, Las Vegas NV -
http://www.las-vegas-golf.com/angelpark.html
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, The Greens at Desert Springs 18-hole CPC (1,435 feet in length), Palm Desert CA -
http://vacation-palm-springs.com/palm-springs-golf-marriott.htm
3. MINIGOLF BUILDERS
These links are for builders of the usual minigolf courses (i.e., for kids in vacation areas):
Harris Miniature Golf Builders -
http://www.harrisminigolf.com/
Directory list of builders:
http://dmoz.org/Sports/Golf/Miniature_Golf/Course_Builders/
I don't believe the above folk are capable of building a real-grass putting course. I think that requires a regular golf course builder. The regular golf course architects and builders may be found on my website, here:
http://puttingzone.com/Gk/gknavconstruction.html#AandB
The installers of artificial backyard greens are here:
http://www.puttingzone.com/aids.html#BG
4. PROFESSIONAL PUTTERS ASSOCIATION
Pro Putters Association (PPA) -
http://www.proputters.com/
Putt-Putt Golf Courses of ASmerica, Fayetteville NC -
http://www.putt-putt.com/
5. US MINIGOLF
US Pro MiniGolf Association, Myrtle Beach SC -
http://vacation-palm-springs.com/palm-springs-golf-marriott.htm
6. EUROPEAN MINGOLF COMPETITIONS
World Minigolf Sport Federation -
http://www.minigolfsport.com/
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
The PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
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