Variations of Golf - Game Variations

Game Variations

Games based on golf have evolved as well.

Miniature golf is a popular variation of golf, using only a putter in unusual, often comical situations. Examples include putting into a dragon's mouth or between the blades of a windmill or Abraham Lincoln's legs. This mill/president combination featured in an episode of The Simpsons which climaxed with a grisly decapitation for President Lincoln. More sedate miniature golf holes might require the ability to navigate through a skull's eye socket or over a see-saw. It is not uncommon to putt through a loop-the-loop or the portcullis of a castle. Further examples include putting round a lighthouse and avoiding the rotating legs of an octopus. Some holes don't even have comical obstacles, employing merely the use of unusual gradients to negotiate. Some courses, especially those built with a limited budget and/or imagination, have few obstacles and undulations to overcome. Regardless, one can still garner much pleasure from these paltry courses by employing new rules such as ricocheting the ball off a pre-determined number of walls before holing out. In these cases the potential for great amusement is limited only by the competitor's enthusiasm. Apart from that featured in The Simpsons, celebrated miniature golf courses include those found in:

• Overboard (1987 film), which cleverly incorporated the 7 Wonders of the World.
• The Tee Off, Mr. Bean episode of Mr Bean.
• The Entertaining Father Stone episode of Father Ted which saw Father Stone struck by lightning after the windmill fell over.
• Happy Gilmour (1996 film), featuring a clown's mouth.

Other variations of golf include Speed golf which is a combination of golf and running played with a limited number of clubs.

Games similar to golf using items other than clubs and a golf ball have also been created, including Dart Golf, Sholf and Disc Golf.