8 Most Imaginative Miniature Golf Courses in the U.S.

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It's difficult to say where the game of miniature golf was actually invented, but it's said that women in St. Andrews, Scotland were swayed to play a similar game in the late 19th century, since they weren't allowed to play full-swing golf with the men.

Yet, in 1919, an Englishman living in North Carolina, who loved traditional golf, is also said to have built the first mini-golf course, called Thistle Dhu ("This'll do") in his garden for the purpose of improving his short game.

Regardless of its official beginnings, many consider putt-putt to be one of the great American pastimes. For us, on National Miniature Golf Day coming up Sept. 21, the game is a reminder of the kind of joyful pursuits we had as children, and the good, clean fun we hope to pass on to our children, and for them to pass on to theirs, and so on.

Par-King in Lincolnshire, Illinois

This Par-King course opened in 1977, making it the oldest in the Chicago area. Of the course's 19 moving objects, players' favorites are the 10-foot Sears Tower replica, with an elevator that takes the best-hit balls up to the top floor and delivers them to the green below, and a 20-foot-wide winding roller coaster that takes the ball on a wild ride before sending it toward its chance at a hole in one. There's also a hand-carved carousel, a model of Mount Rushmore, and a roulette wheel at the 18th hole. During the fall, Par-King is only open weekends, weather permitted. For safety reasons, players must be at least 48 inches tall.

Located at 21711 North Milwaukee Avenue, Lincolnshire, Illinois, (847) 634-0333, par-king.com

Hollywood Drive-In, Orlando, Florida

The best thing about playing miniature golf in Florida is that courses can stay open year-round until 2 a.m. Such is the case at Hollywood Drive-In Golf, which opened in 2012 as part of Universal Studios Orlando City Walk. Here, visitors can play or choose between two courses with different Hollywood-inspired themes. The Haunting of Ghostly Greens and Invaders from Planet Putt bring to life 1950s-era horror and sci-fi film genres with features like a 30-foot robot, a giant spider and its web, and a mad scientist's basement laboratory. Check in at the theater box office for a single or double feature (18 or 36 holes).

Located at Universal Orlando City Walk, 6000 Universal Boulevard #774, Orlando, Florida, (407) 802-4848, hollywooddriveingolf.com

Congo River Golf, Clearwater, Florida

Surrounded by an evergreen jungle, hidden caves and waterfalls, the Congo River Golf course in Clearwater is the first of eight that have been opened in Florida since 1992. No matter which you visit, all of the 18-hole miniature golf adventures offer challenging courses, lagoons filled with baby alligators to feed, and gemstone mining stations where you can unearth a gem of your own. The park is opened until midnight on weekends.

Located at 20060 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater, Florida, (727) 797-4222, congoriver.com

KISS by Monster Mini Golf, Las Vegas, Nevada

Monster Mini Golf is an indoor glow-in-the-dark string of franchised courses across the United States, but Las Vegas is the only one to bare the rockin' name KISS. After the unique chain of establishments grew in popularity, KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley approached the owners to create a KISS-inspired location.

Black lights illuminate the space and players are guided through a fiery maze that weaves in and out of oversized instruments, massive jack-in-the-box toys with the band members' heads popping out, and a painting of the Rat Pack re-imagined as KISS fans. At the 18th hole, there's a larger-than-life Gene Simmons head with its rolled-out tongue just taunting players to make a hole-in-one. Oh, and there's a wedding chapel.

Located at 4503 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Neveda, (702) 558-6256, monsterminigolf.com/kiss

Pirate's Cove, Traverse City, Michigan

Welcome to the Golden Age of Piracy-not to worry, folks, this has nothing to do with the Internet. At Pirate's Cove, youthful adventurers traverse over footbridges, through rocky caves, and under gushing waterfalls that span across two 18-hole courses. Swashbucklers young and old can also enjoy bumper boats with spray guns, a thrilling water coaster with a 50-foot drop, a go-cart racetrack (and kiddy go-carts), a rope challenge course with obstacles situated 33 feet off of the ground, and a 750-foot zipline ride. After the third weekend in October the park will be closed until April.

Located at 1710 US 31 North, Traverse City, Michigan, (231) 938-9599, piratescove.net

Castle Park, Riverside, California

When it comes to mini-golf, Castle Park in Riverside is on an entirely different playing field. With four intertwining 18-hole courses that span all expertise levels, from beginning to professional, and 25-acres worth of fun and entertainment, this park is by far one of the best in the country. It's been around since the late '70s and has expanded over the years to include a merry-go-round, an antique car ride, a miniature locomotive that circles the grounds, a number of roller coasters, a log ride, an arcade, carnival games, and a water park. Thankfully it's open seven days a week, all year long, because Castle Park is made for more than just a one-day adventure.

Located at 3500 Polk Street, Riverside, California, (951) 785-3000, castlepark.com

Captain Hook's Adventure Golf, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

It's no secret the kind of whimsical fun you'll have at Captain Hook's Adventure Golf, which takes visitors through the storybook world of Neverland and Peter Pan's journey with the Darling kids. Much like in the children's tale, players visit the home of the Lost Boys, pass through Mermaid Lagoon, approach Captain Hook's ship where Tiger Lily is held captive, encounter a ticking crocodile, and have a chance to save Tinkerbell. For $35 per person, get the fantasy golf package for this year-round park and the company's four other different-themed locations nearby.

2205 N Kings Hwy,Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, (843) 913-7851

Peril's of the Lost Jungle, Herndon, Virginia

It began with a visit to Disneyland, which inspired a childhood dream, and years later the purchase of one animatronic alligator that shot water from its mouth. The story behind the Perils of the Lost Jungle miniature golf course is about as intriguing as the interactive story visitors are taken through at the park, a visual cross between the Magic Kingdom's Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jungle Cruise rides.

Throughout the 18-hole course, animated characters Nigel Bogey and Charlie Wallnut guide players past a witchdoctor, a killer Komodo dragon, a raging gorilla, a man-eating alligator, and a whole jungle full of creatures. There's even an animatronic Tarzan that swings overhead.

11801 Leadsburg Pike, Herndon, Virginia, (703) 430-8337, woodysgolf.com

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