According to some sport historians, miniature golf began as activity for woman of the 19th century who became interested in playing golf. Because the motions required to swing a golf club were deemed unsuitable for women, in 1867 golf enthusiasts at St Andrews constructed the Ladies Putting Club, a course of 18 putting greens. The Scottish course is still in operation. A few decades later, American and British hotels offered their guests a miniature-sized golf course, using the same designs as actual golf courses, but at one tenth the scale. The game was called garden golf, pitch-and-putt golf, clock golf, or par-3 golf. In the United States, miniature courses first appeared in the early years of the 20th century. The game florished into the 1920s, but by the time of the Great Depression, few courses remained. the sport revived after World War II and continued on into the 21st century.
This fascinating tabletop version is complete with nine miniature "holes," and a tiny ball and club.