The Golden Age of Mini Golf

Remembering old-school Putt-Putt

One of the original Putt-Putt Fun Centers, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, circa 1979; photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Ever since the first Putt-Putt Fun Center opened in 1954 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, mini golf has garnered high marks for fun and friendly sportsmanship.

Our “Vintage Summer” story features the original Putt-Putt Fun Center and also lists existing old-school mini-golf centers across the Southeast that offer the same vibe as the original—in a day and age where most mini golf centers feature prop-heavy, adventure-themed designs.

Before we share the list, how about a mini golf-themed poll and trivia question?

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Weekly Poll

Last Week’s Poll Results

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Backroad Trivia

How much did a round of mini golf cost when the original Putt-Putt Fun Center opened in 1954?

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Spartanburg, South Carolina Putt-Putt Fun Center, circa 1979; photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

The Golden Age of Mini Golf

As you celebrate summer’s last days, head out to a mini golf course to experience mini golf the way it used to be.

SOUTHEAST

Putt-Putt Fun Centers
puttputt.com
Putt-Putt on Instagram

This chain, spawned from the original, still flexes vintage orange-framed putting greens and a simple but challenging design.

14 locations in the Southeast:

• 3763 Martinez Boulevard, Martinez, Georgia 30907

• 1340 N. Church Street, Burlington, North Carolina 27217

• 1608 White Lake Drive, Elizabethtown, North Carolina 28337

• 3311 Footbridge Lane, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28306

• 533 7th Avenue Place SW, Hickory, North Carolina 28602

• 2418 N. Main Street, High Point, North Carolina 27262

• 319 Bluff City Highway, Bristol, Tennessee 37620

• 346 W. Stone Drive, Kingsport, Tennessee 37660

• 5484 Summer Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38134

• 10770 Lebanon Road, Mount Juliet, Tennessee 37122

• 1515 Putt-Putt Place, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901

• 8105 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, Virginia 24502

• 7901 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, Virginia 23235

• 6801 Peters Creek Road #4012, Roanoke, Virginia 24019

Here are two more mini golf centers in the Southeast that operate under a vintage theme of pure and simple mini golf.

The Roof at Ponce City Market
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30308
poncecityroof.com/skyline-park
In addition to an old-school mini-golf course, you can also enjoy vintage arcade games, rides, and food at this establishment.

Thistle Dhu Putting Course
80 Carolina Vista, Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374 
pinehurst.com/golf/courses/thistle-dhu-putting-course
It only makes sense for an 18-hole putting course to be constructed in the same community where the country’s first mini-golf course was built in 1916. 

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DIY Mini Golf Courses