Each hole is 30-45 feet long on average, and 2.5-3 feet wide on average. The holes range in depth from 6 inches to nearly 3 feet.
An average mini-golf course has between 18 and 20 holes. There are more than 300 mini-golf courses in the United States, with at least one at every major airport in the country.
Almost any type of terrain can be used for mini-golf, but slopes of less than 5% are generally flat so that balls do not roll down them. Flat areas without obstacles such as trees or buildings are preferred because it makes putting the ball into the cup easier. Hills should be avoided because putting a ball into a hole from a high vantage point is harder than doing so from a low one.
Holes tend to be shaped like circles, squares, or triangles. The number of sides each hole has ranges from three to almost infinitely many. Examples include hexagons, octagons, and decagons. Holes often have names such as "Star", "Zigzag", or "Par 3".
The goal in mini-golf is to get one's ball into the cup by hitting it with a club.
3. "We keep hole positions at least five paces—approximately 15 feet—from the green's margins." Many golfers are unaware that, while there are standards about the size of the hole and the depth of the liner, there are no laws regarding how far the hole must be positioned from the edge of a putting green.
4. "The rule is generally understood to mean that if a ball is placed in a hole on the fairway, then it is considered a lost cause for recovery. If a ball is lying in the rough, friends may attempt to recover it by knocking it back into the fairway or into view of the player." In other words, a lost ball means you give up hope of finding it. If you happen upon a ball in the rough, it is possible it could be recovered.
5. "A player who has hit into (i.e., off of the side of) an ocean should call a penalty shot if he wishes to take advantage of any drop-in rules that may apply." The ocean represents water so it would be impossible to hit a ball into such water; therefore, if you do hit one into the ocean you should leave the ball where it lies and proceed with your round. Some golf courses have markers in the sand to indicate where balls go when they are removed from the course. Others use flags or colored rings. It is up to the individual golfer as to what method he/she uses to mark their balls.
Four inches The Rules of Golf say unequivocally that a hole must be 4.25 inches in diameter and at least 4 inches deep. One of the reasons holes are replaced regularly, typically each morning before the first tee time, is to keep the edges clean. Sharp objects can cause serious injuries if you happen to hit them.
Holes can be deeper than 4 inches. If this is the case, then they should be filled with fresh dirt. This keeps the surface even and helps maintain even temperatures during play. The fill material should be a good quality soil with some sand mixed in for texture.
Hole depths less than 4 inches have their advantages too. They can help promote easy ball placement and also make it harder for animals to get into. Deep holes can also provide more challenge by giving players more room to work with.
The best way to decide how deep your own holes should be is through experience. Play some test rounds using different depths and see what works best for you.
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