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Rounding the bend at Cape Escape in Orleans

Mini-Golf: Putt-Putting around on Cape Cod

Kid's play you say? Not entirely. The Cape's many miniature golf courses offer a fun activity for children and adults alike. Cape Cod is bursting with these games of skill, competition and amusement. From the older nostalgic courses of your youth to the animatronic courses of your children's age, windmills and goofy characters are still holding their own against waterfalls, pirate caves and giant skulls.

The retro mini golf of your youth has given rise to adventure golf played on today's newer courses. Played on a theme course, adventure golf takes you to another place filled with pirates and ships or jungles and animals. Still, many appreciate games of skill played on the courses of yesterday.

Put 'em up! "Ali Gator" at Putter's Paradise in Yarmouth

Miniature golf has been a favorite with Americans for almost a century. In the early 1900s, miniature golf was played as a short form of regulation golf. "garden golf," as it was called, was played on real grass with real putters. By the 1920s bumpers and rails appeared and the putting surface was made smoother. The popularity of garden golf among movie stars and other celebrities peeked the interest of the American public.

Not even the stock market crash of 1929 or the depression effected America's interest in miniature golf. In fact, the depression was the setting for "rinkie dink golf" in which elaborately unique and wacky courses were created using any and all items as obstacles.

Through the past seventy years, miniature golf has evolved into a standardized and regulated activity with its own ProMiniGolf Association, an affiliate of the World Mini Golf Sport Association. Grab your ball and putter and hit the "links." Who knows, maybe you too could compete in the annual US Open of mini golf. Check out our attractions page or our printed publication for courses & other family attractions. Many courses offer money saving coupons; play one or play them all!