Miniature Golf Day: Where To Play In Hartford And Tolland Counties

HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — Miniature Golf Day is celebrated globally on September 21, and discovery of this fact led us to revisit a story we published this summer about miniature golf courses in Hartford and Tolland counties.

Since the early 20th century, miniature golf has been a favorite outlet for families to spend quality fun time together while enjoying a beautiful summer day or evening. The game originated in England in 1912, and began sweeping America around 1916. By the late 1920s, there were tens of thousands of mini golf courses around the country.

The economic depression of the 1930s resulted in the closure and demolition of most courses in the United States by the end of that decade. However, a revival of fortune came about when brothers Joseph and Robert Taylor of Binghamton, N.Y. began building layouts featuring obstacles, including the now-iconic windmill.

Today's courses are a mixed bag - some have the traditional, gimmicky allure of wishing wells, castles, clowns and windmills, while others offer more of a landscaped feel which require players to cater their shots to the contours of the layout.

In recent years, courses have closed in Vernon, Windsor Locks, Ellington, South Windsor and Simsbury, but Patch was able to find a dozen miniature golf locations currently operating in Hartford and Tolland counties. Each listing contains a link to the course's web site or Facebook page, and are listed in reverse alphabetical order to avoid any show of favoritism (plus giving those at the end of the alphabet a chance to show up first for a change).

• Sonny's Place, Somers
• Safari Golf, Berlin
• Riverfront Miniature Golf & Ice Cream, Unionville
• Putter's Paradise, Berlin
• Nomads Adventure Quest, South Windsor
• Matterhorn Mini Golf, Canton
• Mar-Lea Miniature Golf & Driving Range, Bolton
• Lessard Lanes, Plainville
• Hidden Valley, Southington
• Golf Quest, Southington
• Farmington Miniature Golf & Ice Cream Parlor, Farmington
• Fairway Miniature Golf & Batting Cages, South Windsor