Miniature Golf At Lagoon

The first National Miniature Golf Day is less than a month away (May 12) so why not celebrate by looking at Lagoon's own mini-golf course.

In 1962, Golf-Fun opened just north of Mother Gooseland and the Swimming Pool. It's hard to find information about what it was like, but as you can see in this photo (circa 1972) it featured things like the Statue Of Liberty and the Washington Memorial. On the left you can see a little bit of what looks like a paddle wheel of a steamboat. My guess is the course and its obstacles were based on American landmarks and culture. The fountain (at least it looks like it should be a fountain) in the background still stands. The fairway areas are unchanged for the most part.

A couple of decades later in 1981, the name changed to Putter Around The Park. Each hole featured an obstacle based on a ride or attraction at Lagoon. Unfortunately, many of these features have been left in disrepair. The Tidal Wave used to swing back and forth and the Ferris Wheel used to give your ball a ride if you were skilled enough with your putter. Other holes include Dracula's Castle, Roller Coaster, Fire Dragon and a Log Flume that looks more fun than the actual ride. You can almost see how the ideas were stretched a little too far to fit something into the space that existed previous to the retrofit. I have yet to see what anything on hole #7 has to do with the Pioneer Village Blacksmith.

Some wondered if the course would finally be done away with when rumors of The Bat mentioned it would be built in the area. Instead The Bat took a much more elderly victim (the historic Lake Park Terrace) and the golf course remained. Things are starting to be shaken up though. In 2006, a new sign was placed on the ticket building. Bulgy The Whale moved in taking up a piece of what used to be hole #1. Now the Merry-Go-Round is missing, Puff has become Kontiki and two new holes, Ruby's Tubes and The Bat were added to the beginning of the course. So far nothing has been added that has any resemblence to Kontiki, The Bat or the tube rental shop at Lagoon-A-Beach. The new score cards no longer have the names of the holes. Could this mean there are changes planned here?

EDIT: You can find an updated history of this attraction at LagoonHistory.com.