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Argentina  INESfun

22 Feb 2020 at 13:37

There are about 300 recesses on one golf ball, and thanks to them, the ball flies three times farther than a smooth one. ... Balls of the same size...

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Finland John Mittler's blog« See all JJM's blogs

Why minigolf's stuck in Europe
23 Jan 2009 at 09:43 | Posted in: General | Views: 11070 | Comments: 34
We Europeans have played “World Championships” for two decades now. Mostly between European players only. At the same time, Americans have played their own Putting World Championships, between American players only.

The European form of minigolf was born in Europe, and the competition sport filled the entire continent during the 20th century. But the European version of minigolf has seen very little growth outside of Europe. Americans don’t play the European version of minigolf, which includes the special balls. Americans play with a golf ball only.

Why did the WMF version of competition minigolf get stuck inside Europe? Why are our “World Championships” visited by so few players from outside of Europe? (Budapest 2008 didn’t have any players from outside of Europe.)

There are certainly many answers to this question. One of the answers is that WMF major tournaments practically always include eternite or beton as a playing system, and players from outside of Europe have a hard time enjoying these playing systems. We are trying to sell a product that is not selling very good — outside of Europe. In Europe this product is selling just OK, to the limited number of competition players that we have.

It is surprising how little this problem is discussed, that eternite has nearly 100% market share in international major tournaments, even though many players and entire nations never play this system. The minigolf that we are selling is like a Soviet supermarket: only one product on the shelf. Take it or leave it. We need more freedom of choice, more true diversity in the playing systems of major tournaments, a more equal market share for all different playing systems.

But this is not the only or biggest reason why minigolf got stuck inside Europe. The biggest reason is probably money. Europe is the rich “Old World”, which has built an empire of wealth imported from Africa and Asia during the past centuries. Travelling around the world is very expensive, and all major tournaments are played in Europe. Flying to Europe from the other side of the world is so expensive that it could take all savings of an average person. Even if people have the money, they probably have other more important uses for their money.

How much does it cost to travel to a competition? Below is a diagram of the average cost of flight tickets per person (cheapest two-way ticket during August, prices listed in EUR), if the competition gets 14 teams from Europe and 4 teams from outside of Europe (USA, Thailand, Brazil, Egypt). This is a simple and also futuristic example, because WMF version of minigolf has not grown to Africa or South America yet.

If a major tournament is played in Central Europe, the average travel costs per person (for all participating 18 teams in this example) are approximately 250 euros per person. If the tournament is played in Cairo, the average travel costs are nearly twice so much. If the competition is played in United States, the average travel costs are 3 times greater, and if the competition is played in Asia or South America, the average travel costs are 4 times greater. (For more detailed statistics, click here.)

There is very much economical sense in arranging the major tournaments in Europe. But it means that Europeans can easily afford to participate in the tournaments, while many talented non-Europeans will stay away because of the high costs. No matter where the competition is played, the local team has travel costs near zero (plus hotel costs), and teams from the other side of the world have travel costs near 1000 euros per person. The competition game is thriving nicely in Europe, but without much growth outside of Europe.

Even without a Doctor’s Degree in mathematics, it is easy to find a possible solution to this problem. If the average flight costs to London are 200 euros for all 18 teams from 5 continents, they can afford to meet each other in competition, if everyone pays 200 euros, and everyone gets a flight ticket to London.

A year ago I was planning a MOS minigolf competition with this principle. I discussed with Brad Lebo and Matt McCaslin, the greatest legends of American minigolf, and they were interested in coming to Europe, if their flight tickets are subsidized by local European players. This competition project never came true, but it proved that many great minigolfers from around the world are interested in meeting each other, if the problem of travel costs is solved.

European minigolfers can afford to grow the sport outside of their Old World. But it requires some smart economical decisions, and probably also more neutral, universally interesting playing systems.

previous comments    next comments
Comments (34)

Finland JJM (John Mittler) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 19:57
Golf ball is a fine tool for playing minigolf, but it needs extra-soft carpet. Nearly all minigolf courses in Europe have a surface too hard for a golf ball, so the ball would travel bouncing rather than rolling.

The first minigolf course of all time still exists and is open for public. Nowadays also men are allowed to play at Himalayas putting course in St Andrews, Scotland. Could be a potential destination for pilgrimage, once in a lifetime...

Finland HansIII (Pasi Aho) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 19:20
At least Stone Harbor, NJ has a Swedish felt course (Tee Time Miniature Golf) operated by the family of Jeff Schaefer. Some Europeans may remember Jeff from his participation in YWC 2002 in Bad Münder, Germany.

United States of America Putts4Bux (Dennis Biesma) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 18:51
To Bub: I agree with your first statement, "Every sport has its technical/material part. As long as it is fair competition without cheating and it is not necessary to invest thousands of EUR/USD every season, it is ok, I think!", but must take exception to the second.

My exception to your second statement is on several points. First is that a golf ball is 2nd class equipment. In American minigolf whether PPA or USPMGA sanctioned events, you must use a regulation golf ball, there is no other choice. Therfore it is not 2nd class equipment. Now, the level of quality of manufacture of that golf ball may be divided into 1st class (Pro-V1, Nike One Platinum, etc.), and 2nd class (Top-Flite Strata, Wilson 50/50, etc., and no disrespect to Top-Flite or Wilson intended).

Over here in the US, I believe there is a grand total of 2 eternit courses, one in Myrtle Beach (which looks like it has seen better days, in my opinion), and one in Wisconsin that Astra has. I have practiced at both of these, and I definitely would not want to use a standard golf ball on these courses. I don't think the ball would stay on the lanes. Also, I don't believe that there are any betong or swedish felt courses here either. If we did have more courses of these styles to play on, we might have more interest in the European style of mini-golf. I would say though, that the eternit or betong styles would not be of interest to the paying customers in the US looking for a night out with the family at the mini-golf course (I might, but I'm not normal). ;)

And, while I agree that a golf ball is meant for flying, it is also meant for rolling (on a grass surface). It may not roll as true as a perfect sphere, but it's close enough that the difference is practically negligible.

Now comes by biggest arguement, Mini-golf was derived from golf, as it was originally developed for women (wives, I would imagine) of members of Scottish golf clubs, because women weren't allowed to take part in violent sports (which golf at the time was considered). It was played on grass at that time. My question is, which style of mini-golf is closest to the original? Eternit? Betong? Swedish Felt? US Adventure-style mini-golf? Putt-Putt style minigolf? In my opinion Eternit and Betong are the furthest from the original intention of the game. I don't know enough about the Swedish Felt style to offer an opinion, but of the remaining two options, I feel that the Putt-Putt style is closer than the Adventure-style. Simply put, every Putt-Putt hole is par 2, and should be able to be made in 1 stroke, while some of the Adventure style holes can have pars up to 5 or more. There's also the consistancy of playing off the rails (Putt-Putt), or bricks and/or rocks in the adventure style. There's no consistency if the surface is rock, but decent consistency off of bricks. The drawback to bricks is if your shot is off by a cm or two, then you could get "mortared", that is hitting the mortar between the bricks and getting a really strange bounce.

My feeling is also that the use of different balls on each hole is too specialized. I'm not saying it's wrong, as I really did like playing on the eternit courses that I have, just too specialized. I wish there were more European style courses here, where we could practice them more, and become competitive on those style courses. It's just probably not going to happen unless one of our putters wins a lottery for a few million USD.

To JJM: I'm not positive on the USPMGA rules concerning more than one ball on a person during competition, in the PPA it is a big no-no. It will get you disqualified if you get caught with a 2nd ball on your person. I know I finished tied for 4th in that US Open (as an amateur), and I only played with one ball. I seriously doubt that any in the top 8(all 8 either PPA or former PPA) would have played with 2 balls, but again, I could be wrong.

Finland JJM (John Mittler) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 17:18
Most people had two golf balls in pocket at US Open 2007: a fast golf ball and a slow golf ball.

Two golf balls cost 2 euros, or possibly 5 euros if you by the most luxurious balls found on the market. A basic selection of 100 minigolf balls costs 1500 euros. Not really a Third World equipment to buy for poor people.

Austria bub74 (Markus Berger) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 16:57
Thanx for that comment! It shows me two things:

1) We will always try to enhance our play not only by simple skill training!! No matter if we play on ball for 18holes or for just one! If we would play it on 18 holes, we would use material that we can adjust very fast. (quick warming, or cooling) Is that more fun? Also no matter if we use golfballs or minigolfballs!
Every sport has its technical/material part. As long as it is fair competition without cheating and it is not necessary to invest thousands of EUR/USD every season, it is ok, I think!

2) Golfballs on Minigolf Courses is the wrong choice!
Why you are buying golfballs in the USA to play minigolf??? Are you getting money from the manufacturers? Is there any advantage doing so?
Wouldn´t it be good so use balls made by producers that are paying fees to the WMF? Buying golfballs means to me, that the money is lost for our sport! Supporting official minigolf suppliers means getting a little bit money back to develop our sport!
btw. Golfballs are made for flying - not for rolling! So why using "2nd class" equipment in your beloved sport. It is like trying to win Indy500 with VW Beatle ...
(mmhh) - might be a topic by itself

United States of America Putts4Bux (Dennis Biesma) | Delete

18 Mar 2009 at 16:12
Believe it or not, we Americans have the same issue with finding the "right" ball, just not to the degree you Europeans have. First, we (PPA) can choose any white (non-colored) ball listed on the USGA list of approved balls (any month in a specific calendar year). Do you know how many balls are on that list?

Second, each type of ball has a different "kick" when you have to play off a rail. Most PPA players on the east coast tend to use either the Titleist Pro-V1 or the Nike Power Distance Super Soft. I personally have tried to combine the two by using the Nike One Platinum, and am now trying out the new Nike One Tour. Some of our western players like to use the Callaway balls, but a lot of them do use the Pro-V1 also.

I've tried the Pro-V1 and have found I don't like it, but that may be as much psycological as it is reality. There's one hole that I've played on our tour where if I were to play the Nike One Platinum I have to put a hook-spin on the ball, whereas if I play the Pro-V1 I can hit the same shot without the hook-spin for the same results. This is on a carpeted hole (lane) with metal rails (a basic Putt-Putt hole).

The time of day, the humidity, course conditions (wet or dry) can also affect our shot and/or ball selection for any given course. Sometimes humidity will affect the "kick" a ball will get, as will the time of day (both seem to affect the rails more than the ball itself).

I believe we both have similar situations as far as ball selection, but the biggest difference is we have to play a full round of 18 before we can switch balls if we desire to, rather than on every hole. My feeling is that if you had to pick a different ball for every hole, it would take away from the fun of the game. That's just my humble opinion, and I could be wrong.

United Kingdom petere (Peter Emmerson) | Delete

08 Feb 2009 at 10:53
Maybe you're missing the point. Maybe you can't grow the european game outside of europe because it's not appealing enough. Europeans should look to travel to more competitons outside of europe and play other systems rather than thinking that everyone wants to play eternit and beton?

Sweden Viking (Pierre Geerhold) | Delete

26 Jan 2009 at 20:09
That´s 4 of us then. All the balls and find the best ways too play a lane is a big part of the fun in the sport.

Sweden Nimalu (Martin Lundell) | Delete

26 Jan 2009 at 19:01
Well, that makes at least 3 of us... :-)

Portugal AS (André Silva) | Delete

26 Jan 2009 at 17:47
@Tiek. That's it Erik. At least there's two of us.
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