Historic Houston Miniature Golf Courses

[Subdude]

That's funny Subdude, they had a location in SA that was always packed. Another question was there a miniature golf course on kirby close to the old kroger?

In a Tidelands thread there is a list of businesses on Main St in 1969, and Houston Golf Center is listed at 7710 Main between Braeswood and Kirby. Is that what you were referring to?

Where were other miniature golf courses in Houston? For me these rank up there with snake farms and dinosaur parks as great roadside attractions.

[Firebird65]

I used to play at a Putt-Putt course on I-45 just north of Northline Mall between Airline and Tidwell.

This was in the mid to late 1970s.

[texianjoe]

In a Tidelands thread there is a list of businesses on Main St in 1969, and Houston Golf Center is listed at 7710 Main between Braeswood and Kirby. Is that what you were referring to?

Where were other miniature golf courses in Houston? For me these rank up there with snake farms and dinosaur parks as great roadside attractions.

Thats a good question, I love playing Put-Put. We used to go to the Castle on 610 and I10 I think it was. They also had a Malibu Grand Prix.

joe

[TheBez]

Thats a good question, I love playing Put-Put. We used to go to the Castle on 610 and I10 I think it was. They also had a Malibu Grand Prix.

joe

There was a Castle on I10 . . but not at 610. There was one I think on 59 close to 610 ? I remeber going to the one on I10 in JrH and HS... and they guys would always try to turn it into a driving range and knock one to the feeder.

[marmer]

The Castle was on 290 just north of I-10 and just outside 610.

[EastEnd Susan]

I played putt putt in the 60's and 70's somewhere way down OST. It was a great place especially at night. There were 3 different courses and we would play all 3. I remember if you got a hole in one on the last hole you got a free game. I also played at one on the Gulf freeway. It was nice too. I also played at the one on Southmore in Pasadena and played once at the big one in Galveston by Stewart Beach. They used to have a commercial about... Putt Putt For The Fun Of It.. I do remember all the words but I wont make y'all suffer

[Pumapayam]

The Castle was on 290 just north of I-10 and just outside 610.

It was called Malibu

[mumbles]

http://www.pct3.hctx.net/PMary/Golf.htm

Free one in katy.

[TJones]

I could swear there is a topic on this already. Games People Play on FM1960, Putt-Putt on Beechnut or W.Belfort, right there in Meyerland. There was also a Putt-Putt on Westhiemer @ Chimney Rock, back in the 70's.

Edited June 23, 2007 by TJones

[sevfiv]

around '55 there was a miniature golf course at 1910 fannin, between calhoun (st. joseph) and pierce...

there is also an abandoned one now on e. james st. near alexander st. in baytown (c. 1970)

Edited June 23, 2007 by sevfiv

[sevfiv]

found baytown photos - not exactly a historic putt putt, but eerie nonetheless

[TJones]

I've played THAT course more times than I have fingers and toes Sev.

[sevfiv]

I've played THAT course more times than I have fingers and toes Sev.

well, you still can! just bring your own equipment (and a flashlight if at night)

[TJones]

well, you still can! just bring your own equipment (and a flashlight if at night)

.....and a gallon of Deet Off! spray. Eh, no thanks, I am full of memories.

[gonzo1976]

I used to play at a Putt-Putt course on I-45 just north of Northline Mall between Airline and Tidwell.

This was in the mid to late 1970s.

Maybe this is a different one, but I know for sure there was one where Shepherd ends at I-45. It was sort of behind where the flea market is now. If I recall correctly, I think there was a multiple homicide at that site in the early '80s. If it wasn't that one, then it was at a similar one. I do know that a multiple homicide occurred at one of those putt-putt/go-kart places.

[FilioScotia]

snake farms and dinosaur parks?

I'm not one of those people who wakes up every day hoping someone will do or say something that offends me, but your ranking of miniature golf courses with snake farms and dinosaur parks is just pure elitist snobbery.

You may be surprised to know that miniature golf has been one of the most popular family pastimes in the country since the 1950s. It's always been one of the few places families could go for good clean outdoor fun at a reasonable cost.

There were any number of miniature golf courses, individually and corporate owned, but Putt-Putt was and still is the most familiar. Putt-Putt is the copyrighted name of the biggest national chain of miniature golf courses in the country. At one time, Putt-Putt had courses all over Houston, but it's now down to just one Houston area course, on NASA Rd One in Webster.

It has survived because it has managed to change with the times. Here's how Putt-Putt

describes itself on its website. "Today, Putt-Putt is transitioning into mini amusement parks with multiple attractions for children and adults. These new Putt-Putt Fun Centers may include go-karts, batting cages, kiddie rides, bumper boats, game rooms, laser tag, climbing walls and more."

I'm guessing that changing tastes in entertainment and rising land prices put a damper on Putt-Putt's growth prospects and caused it to shrink. Even so, it's still thriving and growing again in other parts of the state and around the country. Check out the Putt-Putt website. http://www.puttputt.com/home.html

There's even professional miniature golf, complete with a tour of tournaments and touring pros. Here's the website of Pro Putters of America. http://www.proputters.com/

The timing of your posting is perfect Subdude. The PPA Texas Open is going on this weekend at the Putt-Putt in Webster. Laugh at them if you want to, but I'm betting a lot of those guys are crying about it all the way to the bank.

And, oh yes, I played at a Putt-Putt course on the Gulf Freeway somewhere around Edgebrook or College Avenue.

Edited June 24, 2007 by FilioScotia

[nm5k]

Used to be one on W.Bellfort about 2 lots down from the Meyer branch

library.. I think it's a car wash now though.. I forgot the name, but I

don't think it was a putt-putt.. Something else..

MK

[devonhart]

Used to be one on W.Bellfort about 2 lots down from the Meyer branch

library.. I think it's a car wash now though.. I forgot the name, but I

don't think it was a putt-putt.. Something else..

MK

Gooney Golf

[Subdude]

I'm not one of those people who wakes up every day hoping someone will do or say something that offends me, but your ranking of miniature golf courses with snake farms and dinosaur parks is just pure elitist snobbery.

You may be surprised to know that miniature golf has been one of the most popular family pastimes in the country since the 1950s. It's always been one of the few places families could go for good clean outdoor fun at a reasonable cost.

There were any number of miniature golf courses, individually and corporate owned, but Putt-Putt was and still is the most familiar. Putt-Putt is the copyrighted name of the biggest national chain of miniature golf courses in the country. At one time, Putt-Putt had courses all over Houston, but it's now down to just one Houston area course, on NASA Rd One in Webster.

It has survived because it has managed to change with the times. Here's how Putt-Putt

describes itself on its website. "Today, Putt-Putt is transitioning into mini amusement parks with multiple attractions for children and adults. These new Putt-Putt Fun Centers may include go-karts, batting cages, kiddie rides, bumper boats, game rooms, laser tag, climbing walls and more."

I'm guessing that changing tastes in entertainment and rising land prices put a damper on Putt-Putt's growth prospects and caused it to shrink. Even so, it's still thriving and growing again in other parts of the state and around the country. Check out the Putt-Putt website. http://www.puttputt.com/home.html

There's even professional miniature golf, complete with a tour of tournaments and touring pros. Here's the website of Pro Putters of America. http://www.proputters.com/

The timing of your posting is perfect Subdude. The PPA Texas Open is going on this weekend at the Putt-Putt in Webster. Laugh at them if you want to, but I'm betting a lot of those guys are crying about it all the way to the bank.

And, oh yes, I played at a Putt-Putt course on the Gulf Freeway somewhere around Edgebrook or College Avenue.

Sir, you misunderstand me. My grouping of miniature golf courses with dinosaur parks and snake farms wasn't meant as an insult to miniature golf. Quite the opposite - I love those places. See - here is a picture from a dinosaur park I visited last year in California:

It is just unfortunate so few classic roadside attractions survive.

[JLWM8609]

Maybe this is a different one, but I know for sure there was one where Shepherd ends at I-45. It was sort of behind where the flea market is now. If I recall correctly, I think there was a multiple homicide at that site in the early '80s. If it wasn't that one, then it was at a similar one. I do know that a multiple homicide occurred at one of those putt-putt/go-kart places.

I think you're referring to the one that was on US 59 at the Westpark curve.

[Firebird65]

Maybe this is a different one, but I know for sure there was one where Shepherd ends at I-45. It was sort of behind where the flea market is now. If I recall correctly, I think there was a multiple homicide at that site in the early '80s. If it wasn't that one, then it was at a similar one. I do know that a multiple homicide occurred at one of those putt-putt/go-kart places.

That was the Malibu go-cart track, with a Waterslide next door. There was never a minature golf course there. Simply no room. As the poster right before me says, you may be thinking of another one and I'm with him - it's the one on U.S. 59 where the murder took place.

[Fringe]

Gooney Golf

That was it. Used to play there all the time in the 60's. It was a Gooney Golf free round ticket that got me 2 rows from the stage of the Doors concert in

[nativehou]

I also played at one on the Gulf freeway. It was nice too.

Yes, I played on that one, too. It was somewhere on the feeder near Airport Blvd. I think they had go-karts, too. I'm not thinking of SuperTrack -- that came after this one.

[musicman]

Yes, I played on that one, too. It was somewhere on the feeder near Airport Blvd. I think they had go-karts, too. I'm not thinking of SuperTrack -- that came after this one.

it was at monroe on the same corner where the ninfa's is now.

[EastEnd Susan]

Yes, I played on that one, too. It was somewhere on the feeder near Airport Blvd. I think they had go-karts, too. I'm not thinking of SuperTrack -- that came after this one.

Yep, thats the one. It was on the southbound side of the gulf freeway. I think it had three different courses too. I do remember when they put the go cart track in but I never went after that. The last time I went was probably 1974 or so. What great times.

[FilioScotia]

Sir, you misunderstand me. My grouping of miniature golf courses with dinosaur parks and snake farms wasn't meant as an insult to miniature golf. Quite the opposite - I love those places. It is just unfortunate so few classic roadside attractions survive.

You're right, and I was probably being a little too sensitive. I also spent a lot of hours of my misspent youth playing miniature golf, and even working at one in Pasadena when I was a lot younger. I'm talking about the family-owned miniature golf course that was at the corner of Shaw Street and North Witter in Pasadena.

It was owned and operated by the Pomeroy family, whose house was on the other end of the same corner lot. In the mid 50s, they also put in a dozen or so ground level trampolines when those things suddenly became popular.

You may recall the trampoline craze died out pretty quickly because so many people were breaking their ankles, arms and legs on those things. For those too young to remember ground-level trampolines, they were installed over a pit about two feet deep. They were fun, but dangerous for the unskilled.

Edited June 25, 2007 by FilioScotia

[Kirzania]

The Castle was on 290 just north of I-10 and just outside 610.

So which was the course at I-10 and 610, just north of the highway-yellow antiques building?

[PapillionWyngs]

I know that there was more than one Malibu Grand Priz - with a miniture golf course. They all looked like castles. I know that there was one on 59, one on 610, and maybe one on I-10.

I don't know which one had the murders - after that, they eventually all closed.

[chrisngrod]

I swear there was a miniature golf course in Memorial City Mall at one time. Back when they had the entertainment area upstairs and one in the food court.

[Poppahop]

The Malibu where the murders took place was on 59. I remember it very well. It stayed open for years after that -- they might have changed the name, but it was still a go-kart place when I was in high school in the mid '80s.

[mblaise]

There was a miniature golf course on Yale, north of Loop 610, during the 1960s, going north, on the right side, just before the railroad tracks. The putting surfaces had black felt instead of green. I either went there on a birthday or with Cub Scouts. It was already kind of worn out at that point. Sad that most putt putt courses are gone.

[lokithebubba]

For those interested generally, try to find the book "Miniature Golf" by Margolies. Probably out of print now, but you;ll recognize it if you see it in a used book store. It's the one with an astroturf cover.

http://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Golf-Recol...3133&sr=1-1

[houstonmacbro]

This is kind of off-topic, but I live up near Spring (inside Houston city limits though) and there was a Golfing range right as you exit I45 for 1960. It seemed to be getting good business, but now I notice they had a for sale sign (forget how many acres).

Are these ranges not good businesses? They seemed to always have a steady clientel out there almost all year round.

[chrisngrod]

This is kind of off-topic, but I live up near Spring (inside Houston city limits though) and there was a Golfing range right as you exit I45 for 1960. It seemed to be getting good business, but now I notice they had a for sale sign (forget how many acres).

Are these ranges not good businesses? They seemed to always have a steady clientel out there almost all year round.

I've seen many ranges come and go. The one on Kingsland (between Mason and Fry in Katy) changed owners frequently and to my knowledge is a paintball course now. It has an automatic dispenser which set your ball on the tee by just tapping a lever.

[acamarillo]

I think driving ranges are often used as placeholders and maybe a way to get money to pay land taxes until an area develops. Then, when the value increases, the owners look to sell it to whoever wants to make the newest subdivision, shopping center, apartment complex, whatever.

cases in point - 610/Post Oak, one of my favorites hitting off the hill - apartments, I think; 59n @ 494 (kingwood) - Lowe's; I'm sure there are other examples.

Edited January 14, 2008 by acamarillo

[Heights2Bastrop]

There was a miniature golf course on Yale, north of Loop 610, during the 1960s, going north, on the right side, just before the railroad tracks. The putting surfaces had black felt instead of green. I either went there on a birthday or with Cub Scouts. It was already kind of worn out at that point. Sad that most putt putt courses are gone.

I can

[NenaE]

Yes, I played on that one, too. It was somewhere on the feeder near Airport Blvd. I think they had go-karts, too. I'm not thinking of SuperTrack -- that came after this one.

I played at the Putt-Putt off the Gulf Freeway, in between Monroe & Airport. Before that, there was one at Telephone & Bellfort, on the corner, where the Safeway parking lot is now.

[blue92]

I used to play at a place on the corner of S. Main and North Braceswood it had a driving range next door that was next to the  Kiddie Wonderland. For 2 summers I worked for Kiddie Wonderland. I played at that miniature golf course up thru high school in 1968.    

[IronTiger]

On 7/30/2007 at 2:32 PM, chrisngrod said:

I swear there was a miniature golf course in Memorial City Mall at one time. Back when they had the entertainment area upstairs and one in the food court.

I believe that was correct, part of Fame City. There's a commercial actually that shows a part of it.

 

On 11/1/2017 at 6:47 PM, marmer said:

Correct.  Closed and sold off its buildings and fixtures in 1979.  Houston Golf Center, 7710 (South) Main.  Residence Inn was built on the site in 1983.  It opened in 1959, a project of famous oilman Albert Plummer.

 

It looks like it had a driving range or something because the actual "park" area was at the direct corner of Main and Braeswood, which Residence Inn DIDN'T build on. That remained vacant for twenty more years until 7000 Main (Southside Group, specialty pharmacy company) was built.