Chester Leibs What does the article do Why is the miniature golf course is important to the American landscape methods for the manufacture and construction of the courses Materials used miniature golf literature ID: 343123
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Slide1
Miniature Golf Courses
Chester LeibsSlide2
What does the article do?
Why is the miniature golf course is important to the American landscape.
methods for the manufacture and construction of the courses
Materials used
miniature golf literature
“Bricoleur’s” work of art.Slide3
Leisure activity
The first ever 18-hole putting course was reported to exist in Germany in 1915.
Front-lawn
practice links so that guests could sharpen their game skills.Slide4Slide5
New materials
1922 Thomas Fairbairn, owner of a cotton plantation in Mexico, and two associates, all apparently were avid golfers, found that packed cottonseed hulls made an excellent putting surface.
patent
for "a surfacing material for putting greens comprising comminuted flocculent material into a homogenous mass." Slide6
Creating a new sport
In 1927, a hotel owner in Chattanooga decided to add an additional attraction to his property. A miniature golf course was erected complete with new hazards.
It
was believed to be a place children could go while they were visiting; however, it was soon evident that the adults played more than anyone.
The owner, Garnet Carter, soon realized the potential of these links and started the miniature golf-course business. Slide7Slide8
Making leisure democratic
Liebs
connects the rise in popularity of mini-golf with other developments of equality.
ability to travel by the automobile
movie theater
Radio
During
the Depression, miniature golf provided employment.Slide9Slide10
Franchise
The hazards and designs on these courses were taken from the fantasy of the midway and commercial roadside architecture
Popular
symbols were used to draw in customers, such as lighthouses, windmills, and even characters such as Mickey Mouse.
Los
Angeles-based
Miniature Golf Management
featured everything from, "sources of equipment and new course designs to advice on how to placate municipal officials.“
Popular
Mechanics
published plans for backyard miniature golf, which people built out of scraps of lumber, old tires, and other found materials.Slide11
New locations
New courses, both Tom Thumb and otherwise, were predominantly located in urban areas
occupying rooftops
Basements
vacant lots along Main Street
Later the
taxpayer strip. Slide12
Typology
The putting green, a descendant of the practice links featured miniature topographical undulations, sand traps and other elements commonly found on the regulation golf courses.
The fairyland, featured mechanical hazards placed in fanciful settings, with novelty rather then improving one's game of gold as their chief appeal. Slide13
Decline
Fully national by 1929. Declines quickly after 1931
.
The reaction to popularity
Idle youth
Noise
UncontrolledSlide14Slide15
Post-WWII forms
handmade genre. "Constructed of odds and ends
A
high degree of native genius
Innovation
handicraft
.
Many
of the hazards at Putt-A-Round were constructed of "fragments of cultural residue," such as old appliances, boats, and vehicles.
Postwar
courses were situated along major tourist highways and commercial stripsSlide16Slide17Slide18
Mid-1950s and later
Courses reverted toward the factory-built courses reminiscent of the early Tom Thumb courses.
Since
having new surprises is important to the miniature golf businesses, there is a franchiser called
Lomma
Enterprises that has a "Swap-Shop" arrangement where an operator can exchange obstacles and hazards each year.