17 Interesting Miniature Golf Industry Statistics (2024)


Miniature Golf Industry Statistics

Although the origins of miniature golf are somewhat obscure, the modern incarnation of miniature golf or mini-golf, as it is often called, began in the early 1900s and took most of its features from its parent, actual golf.

Since its humble beginnings, mini-golf has developed into a global sensation today. Below we’ll be digging into some interesting miniature golf industry statistics to show how this sport has changed and grown through the years.

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Enthralling Miniature Golf Statistics (Editor’s Pick)

Miniature golf reached a peak during the 1920s but quickly lost momentum as a pastime during the years of the great depression. Below, we look at so other interesting figures relating to mini-golf, including:

  • There are over 38,000 registered members of the World Minigolf Sport Federation, started in 1983.
  • The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the global umbrella company for 56 mini-golf associations globally from 65 countries.
  • Annually, the WMF members organize over 1,500 miniature golf tournaments.
  • Ever the popular sport, by 1930, there were an estimated 25,000 miniature golf courses across the U.S.
  • An estimated 130 million people play mini-golf, bringing in a revenue of roughly $1 billion in the U.S.
  • Prize money for miniature golf competitions is low compared to other sports. Sometimes, there is no prize money.
  • There are approximately 6722 people employed in the miniature golf industry.
  • Miniature golf is most popular with families with children aged between 5 and 18.
  • A miniature golf round of 18 holes can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete.
  • There are an estimated 5,000 miniature golf courses in the USA.
  • Myrtle Beach in South Carolina has around 50 mini-golf courses, one of the highest densities worldwide.

 

Miniature Golf Global Governing Body Statistics

Miniature golf is played globally, with popularity in the USA, Europe (particularly Germany and Sweden), and Asian countries like China and Japan. As popularity grew, competitions were held, governing bodies formed to organize, coordinate, and promote the sport.

1. Globally, there are approximately 40,000 registered professional miniature golfers

Although the layman can grab a putter and have a great time on any mini-golf course, competition participation requires registering with the World Minigolf Sport Federation. Usually, this is done through their country-specific member associations.

There are an estimated 40,000 members globally. Europe is holding the lion’s share of members. In 2015, Germany alone had 11,000 members. Sweden had 8,000, and Austria and Switzerland had members in the low thousands, although not as well represented.

 

2. There are 56 member associations under the world minigolf sport federation

The World Minigolf Sport Federation is the international professional body for mini-golfers. This organization coordinates the world championship events (held biennially). Simultaneously, it supports the 56 local organizations under their umbrella.

There are 65 member countries, and they include:

AlbaniaArmeniaAustralia
AustriaBelgiumBelarus
BrazilCanadaCameroon
Chinese TaipeiCroatiaCyprus
Czech RepublicDenmarkEgypt
EstoniaFinlandFrance
Great BritainGeorgiaGermany
GhanaHungaryIndia
Islamic Republic of IranIrelandIsrael
ItalyJapanKenya
Republic of KoreaKosovoLatvia
LiechtensteinLuxembourgMalaysia
Republic of MoldovaMexicoMongolia
MaltaNetherlandsNepal
NigeriaNorwayNew Zealand
People’s Republic of ChinaPolandPortugal
RomaniaRussian FederationSingapore
SloveniaSerbiaSwitzerland
SlovakiaSpainSweden
ThailandTogoTunisia
TurkeyUkraineUnited Arab Emirates
United States of AmericaVietnam 

 

3. The world minigolf sports federation recognizes 4 types of tournament miniature golf courses

Miniaturegolf (Eternit) Courses

These are the mini-golf courses occurring most frequently. They are constructed out of fiber cement (Eternit).

Their distinguishing feature is that they are physically smaller than the other types (i.e., shorter and narrower) while still having 18 holes selected from 28 preset designs. These courses are generally competition-approved.

Another interesting feature of these holes is that you cannot walk or stand on the course or any obstacles.

 

Felt Golf Courses

These courses were traditionally popular in Finland and Sweden but spread across Europe.

They are constructed of wooden borders and a felt (type of material) floor. Individual holes are generally longer than miniature golf (Eternit) holes.

There are 40 different hole setups to choose from in felt golf course designs. During play, standing on the course is permitted.

 

Concrete (Beton) Golf Courses

These courses originated in Switzerland and are still popular there. Beton courses are well represented in Austria and parts of Germany as well. Concrete golf courses migrated to the U.S. during the 1950s.

As the name implies, the course is concrete with steel barriers. Concrete courses are longer than felt courses. These courses are limited to 18 presets, and most are incredibly similar. Standing on the course during play is permitted, but walking on the course is discouraged.

 

Minigolf Open Standard Golf Courses

Golf courses that fall into this category are the “Adventure Golf” and “Crazy Golf” varieties. These courses are most popular in the U.S. and England, and they have artificial grass as the putting surface.

These courses were only accepted as competition standard in 2007, in a bid to increase the accessibility to mini-golf competitions and to encourage more people to play.

There is a lot of creative freedom in these courses, allowing the designer to customize each hole as desired (lanes are not restricted to a standard size and layout). The benefit of these courses is that countries that don’t have the funds to build the other types of mini-golf courses can still host tournaments on these.

These courses also generally have particular rules/playing styles. The biggest benefit of these courses is their marketing value to gain a better public buy-in to mini-golf.

 

Miniature Golf Championship And Tournament Statistics

Below are some stats concerning miniature golf competitions, particularly the world championships.

4. Globally there are over 1,300 miniature golf events held annually

Each member of the World Minigolf Sports Federation (WMF) hosts local tournaments on an annual/biennial basis.

The WMF hosts international championships, which include:

  • African Open Championships
  • European Champions League
  • Asian Open Championships
  • American Open Championship

Mini-golf tournaments are frequently held in Europe; however, aside from Europe, only China, India, Japan, the United States, and Taiwan participate in international competitions.

In the U.S., the two big mini-golf organizers are the Professional Putters Association and the U.S. Pro Mini-Golf Association. They are responsible for the Master’s Miniature Golf open competition.

 

5. Vanessa Peuker is the #1 female minigolf player in the world

Pending the results of the 2022 tournaments and championships, the standing miniature golf champions from 2020 of women are as below.

As of 2020, the top ten women players of minigolf include:

Vanessa PeukerGermany
Anna BanderaItaly
Stefanie BlendermannGermany
Melanie HammerschmidtGermany
Jasmin EhmGermany
Maja WickiSwitzerland
Marielle SvenssonSweden
Alena DolezelovaCzechoslovakia
Yvonne Trachse lSwitzerland
Karin HeschlAustria

 

6. Fredrik Persson is the top-ranked minigolf player among males

The 2020 men’s top ten minigolfers include:

Fredrik PerssonSweden
Marcel NoackGermany
Aki SillmanFinland
Daniel MoserSwitzerland
Alexander DahlstedtSweden
Sebastian HeineGermany
Rupert WestenthalerAustria
Dan TrulssonSweden
Alexander GeistGermany
Omar MaggiSwitzerland

 

7. The average winnings in a miniature golf tournament are just $5,000

The USA has some of the larger prizes for mini-golf competition winners, and that’s up to around $5,000 for the top spot. In Europe, the winnings are considerably less, and some tournaments are without prize money.

The Australian mini-golf open tournament for 2022 has a prize pot of $10,000. So, the winners won’t be getting much after the “pie” is split.

Unfortunately, mini-golf is not at the point where it could sustain you full time. Although the pastime’s popularity grows, it is still not recognized as a professional sport. Competitive players still need to hold down a day job while getting their practice in.

There are, however, plans to grow the competitive element of mini-golf. Organizers like Bob Detwiler, the founder of the U.S. Pro Minigolf Association, are pushing prize pots up to $20,000. They’re even dreaming of $100,000 pots in years to come.

 

Miniature Golf Industry Size Statistics 

As with any business (or sport), miniature golf needs to make sense financially. Below we look at how mini-golf adds to the economy, how much it costs to set up, and what the future holds for the hobby/sport.

8. The miniature golf industry generates an estimated $1 billion annually, from 130 million participants

The total revenue generated by miniature golf courses is roughly $1 billion globally. Individual mini-golf operations can expect to generate around $100,000 annually.

It costs approximately $500,000 to start a miniature golf course, with a monthly expenditure of around $10 to 12,000. With these costs in mind, many course owners could make back what they invested within a couple of years (some of the quickest were in 18 months).

Miniature golf courses still have the potential to be lucrative. The mini-golf industry is an estimated $337-$450 million market in the U.S.

 

9. The miniature golf industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7%

According to IBISWorld, the mini-golf industry’s market grew more than the U.S. economy in the last five years. It outgrew both the Consumer goods and Services sectors. Between 2017 and 2022, the mini-golf industry’s market grew at an average of 3.1%.

Market analysts suggest that the contributing factor to this increased market growth is increased “disposable” income, money that can be spent on leisure activities, over the last few years.

Many miniature golf establishments don’t offer mini-golf as the sole activity. Due to the rise and fall in popularity mini-golf experienced over the last 100 years, companies learned to diversify.

Many establishments include arcades, carousels, go-karts, bumper cars and boats, food and beverage outlets, and a plethora of other fun activities to diversify and tap into those markets.

 

 

10. The miniature golf industry employs around 6,722 people in the United States

There are roughly 1,010 companies within the miniature golf industry, and they employ 6,722 employees.

Of these companies, the most prominent is Putt-Putt LLS and Monster Mini Golf. However, there are many small business mini-golf courses that people establish as a leisure activity and not for tournament purposes. These mini-golf courses add to the market/industry.

 

11. Families with children contribute around 36% of miniature golf demographics

It’s no surprise that the biggest miniature golf lovers are families with children.

Before a new mini-golf course is erected, a market survey is usually conducted to determine the most likely participants. During one such survey, the analysts determined that around 36.9% of those frequenting the mini-golf course are families with children aged between 5 and 18 years.

However, mini-golf is not limited to this. Teenagers and young adults also use the facilities of their own accord. Another demographic which uses mini-golf courses is corporates for team building and meetings.

 

12. The Covid-19 pandemic greatly harmed the miniature golf industry

Although the miniature golf industry saw a market growth over the last five years, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were still felt by small businesses and larger ones alike.

Many businesses suffered from restrictions on gatherings, people’s movements, and the selling and consumption of various products, like food. In 2020, matters were worsened by the confusion created. Some states opened up their mini-golf courses, while others remained closed.

Some covid curbing initiatives include:

  • Limiting the number of participants.
  • Social distancing.
  • Wearing masks.
  • Sanitizing balls, clubs, and shared surfaces.

 

General Miniature Golf Statistics

Miniature golf is a varied pastime, with many people participating in it. Below we look at some random stats about the game of mini-golf.

13. The best achievement in miniature golf is 18 holes in 18 strokes

Also known as a perfect round in mini-golf. Over one thousand individuals (globally) have achieved this record while playing on Eternit surfaces during competitions. But fewer in the USA. Eternit surfaces are surfaces made of concrete mixed traditionally with asbestos but in recent years other materials.

Competitions held on felt, concrete, or open courses have not produced official “perfect rounds.” However, there are claims from Sweden of perfect rounds during unofficial games.

 

14. The Hawaiian rumble is reputed to be the most challenging miniature golf course

When it comes to bragging rights, South Carolina’s Hawaiian Rumble mini-golf course has plenty of reasons to “flex.” Based on the appearance of a true golf course, the Hawaiian Rumble features sand traps and bumps instead of fiberglass obstacles. Many pros agree that hole 16 is the most challenging.

Although not the only challenging mini-golf course, the Hawaiian Rumble hosts the annual Master’s (the apostrophe is important) Miniature Golf tournament. This competition lasts for three days and consists of twelve rounds.

According to Popular Mechanics, some additionally challenging mini-golf courses include:

  • Aloha Falls Miniature Golf, Libertyville, Illinois
  • Fantasia Gardens’ Fairways, Orlando, Florida
  • Golf Gardens Miniature Golf, Catalina Island, California
  • Hidden Valley, Lakeside, Texas
  • Par-King, Lincolnshire, Illinois
  • Traveler’s Quest Adventure Golf, Skokie, Illinois
  • Urban Putt, San Francisco

 

15. A round of miniature golf lasts for between 30 minutes and 2 hours

How long is a piece of string? The duration of a game of 18 holes depends on many factors, including:

  • Skill. Generally, you’ll play through the holes quicker as your skill improves.
  • The number of players. The more people playing in your group, the longer it will take.
  • The number of people on the course. Even if you’re quick, you may be stuck behind a slower group or chased along by a quicker one.
  • Age of the players. Similar to skill, younger plays usually take longer to get through the holes.
  • Reason for playing. If you’re spending time with family or friends, it’ll take longer than if you play a round with corporate partners.
  • The type of mini-golf course you’re on. Some courses are longer (physically) and take a few extra minutes than shorter ones.

If you’re in a focused game with few other people involved, completing a course in 30 minutes shouldn’t be a problem. But, families with small children/big groups could take up to 2 hours to complete a course.

 

16. There are around 5000 miniature golf courses in the US today

After its initial boom up until the 1930s, where there were an estimated 25,000 miniature golf courses, mini-golf lost some momentum. There are an estimated 5,000 mini-golf courses across the USA in modern times. The game/sport itself remains, however, a popular one.

Mini-golf is just as popular in Europe. Germany alone has around 4000 courses.

 

17. Myrtle beach in South Carolina has the most miniature golf courses

The state’s very own Myrtle Beach is often dubbed the “mini-golf world capital,” and for a good reason too. This South Carolinian town boasts more than 50 miniature golf courses.

Myrtle Beach also observes a mini-golf season that lasts from 2 February (Groundhog day) until Thanksgiving. During these warmer months, the influx of beach-goers frequents these courses, bringing much-needed revenue, allowing course owners to expand their empires, adding more elaborate obstacles and decorations.

The total construction expenses of some courses in Myrtle Beach are estimated to stand in the millions of dollars. Most courses are adventure golf courses and are not competition-focused.

Some of the most popular Myrtle Beach courses include:

  • Cancun Lagoon
  • Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf
  • Hawaiian Rumble Golf
  • Mayday Golf
  • Molten Mountain Miniature Golf
  • Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff
  • Mutiny Bay Golf
  • Sea Cap’n Cain

 

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the fascinating world of miniature golf.

As you can see, it’s a sport with a long, storied history, and one with many fans throughout the world. If you’re feeling particularly inspired by these stats, maybe this is the year you decide to build your own custom mini golf course! We think that would be absolutely amazing.

How do you feel about the state of miniature golf? Is it in decline? Are you a big fan? Will you be taking your kids to play sometime soon? If you have an opinion on miniature golf, we’d love to hear it! Send us an email or tweet us with your thoughts.

Thanks so much for reading. Can’t wait to see you on the green!

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