Midget Golf Craze

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 7

Midget Golf Craze

ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENT

Movie Magnates Interested

MIDGET GOLF, sport's latest craze, has accomplished astounding things in America, England and Europe. Imagine hundreds of thousands of pounds suddenly being invested in this new craze, because somebody discovered that the general public was willing to pay good money to prove its ability to hit a little white ball into a hole?

The craze, however, has not stopped at its development on outside courses. In New York and London private home owners are buying little sets known as “Obstacle Golf.” In New York these are bc-ing retailed at around 10s a set; but of course such a small amount only provides what mav become known as “toy golf.” On the American Pacific Coast municipal councils passed resolutions requiring miniature golf courses to close at midnight! Apparently midget golf has taken on so well that the difficulty now being experienced is getting the populace to bed. PLAYED AT NIGHT A councillor at Los Angeles said that neighbours of the many courses objected to the bright lights and noise during late hours, so. apparently, the new craze has silenced that irritating pianola next door, and the excited ejaculations of would-be golfers have taken its place. In New York and London the craze has developed so that we have homes installing the smaller sets, and midget golf enthusiasts playing the various hazards in nursery or breakfast room at night, and on the lawns during the daytime. American capital is behind this new money-spinner. We have such a prominent entertainer-controller as William Fox, of the Film Interests, interested. The chief executive of the Fox Theatres in America recently had the following to say regarding midget golf: “First we are going to find out just what the public wants- If this craze continues, then we will probably go into the miniature golf pastime on a big scale. “We of the theatres are in the entertainment business. When thousands upon thousands of people decide almost overnight that miniature golf is entertainment, then we must pay attention. “We are free to confess that we do

not understand the miniature golf course business, but —we intend to. Consequently we have bought some courses, and will build others. These courses will, to us, be an experimental laboratory. From these we will learn the inclinations of the public, and if, in our study, we find that miniature golf is going to last, then we will go into this new form of entertainment on a big scale. “Should Fox West Coast Theatres enter the miniature golf business, then, very for tuna tel y, vve will give work to thousands of men——carpenters. stone-masons, plumbers, bricklayers and electricians, for we will build elaborate courses of fine construction and beautifully landscaped.” So violently did the craze sweep the country that cotton seed hulls, which have been found successful as a substitute for the ordinary putting green, jumped 300 per cent., and sawdust became so scarce that butchers had trouble obtaining any for their floors. This is how midget golf is played. Concentration is secured by the various hazards. Holing out from various angles, with numerous objects between the point of striking and the hole intrigues practically everybody who knows anything of the game and thousands who have never even thought seriously about wielding a wood or an iron. Some of the hazards are: To lift your ball into a log through which it should roll and drop on to a gret the other side; playing the ball i an incline through a hole and on a green where another hole is locate* putting a ball over an artificial hi so that it lands in a hole on the oth* side; and generally to cross bridge travel up inclines, travel loop-the loops: hit targets, go through hole: play around curves, and do other tricks with the golf club and ball. The courses are replete with hazards and a sure eye and a steady hand are the greatest necessities in playing the game.