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Miniature Golf Adventures Await You on a Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains

Get outside for some easy-going fun with miniature golf in the Great Smoky Mountains! There are some amazing options for putting your way through unique themed courses that are legendary in mini golf.

Let’s look at some of the crazy fun mini golf in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville in Tennessee.

multicolored golf balls and a putter

Did you know miniature golf can trace its roots to golf’s origins in Scotland?

St. Andrews’ Ladies Putting Club had the world’s first putting-only course in 1867, when the sport of golf – with its full club swing – was considered unladylike. In the U.S., until the 1920s, miniature golf courses appeared at posh resorts. The miniature golf we know today began in Pinehurst, North Carolina with the opening of Thistle Dhu (“This’ll do”) course, which was putting only.

Putt-Putt golf – a trademarked name – was created in 1954 in Fayetteville, North Carolina by Don Clayton, how died in 1996. Putt-Putt takes miniature golf seriously, and to this day, the courses place the emphasis on skill and the possibility of improvement.

There were no custom created themes or fancy, automated barriers in the initial years of mini golf. Instead, early courses featured pipes, barrels, rain gutters and old tires as fun obstacles to challenge a golfer’s skill.

Crave Golf Club

Crave Golf Club in Pigeon Forge, TN

Crave Golf Club is a candy-themed wonderland with indoor and outdoor courses and a Spin Zone table located at the beginning of each hole. You spin the disk before teeing off and follow the instructions for your first turn. If someone in your group spins a candy or ice cream icon, mark it down. If you collect 19 candies or 19 ice creams, exchange your card for a prize at the concessions counter.

There’s a rooftop adventure miniature golf course that includes a colorful candy-colored Sweet train coming out of the building, a giant golf ball and candy inspired decorations.

To go with the candy theme is actual candy in the candy store and soft-serve ice cream. Yum!

Spend all day here – golfing, playing mini bowling and enjoying the Escape rooms – 60-minute real-life adventures where you work together as a team to solve mysteries and escape.

Crave is located at 2925 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, 865-366-3403

Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf

Professor Hacker was a noted explorer, archaeologist, anthropologist, paleontologist, and part-time taxidermist from the University of Chicago. He led two expeditions to the Fogclift Islands off the coast of South America in the 1920’s. The purpose of these expeditions was to search for ancient gold and diamond mines rumored to be hidden on the Islands, but his first surprise was the discovery of an old mining train built by the Germans during the First World War. At the mini golf adventure with two 18-hole courses named after the professor in Pigeon Forge, take “the mining car” to the top of the mountain. Follow Professor Hacker as you putt your way through a fun and exciting expedition with caves, waterfalls, a pirate ship, a temple, and a volcano to find gold and diamonds.

Find Professor Hacker’s at 3010 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. (865) 453-0307.

A Mining Train that takes you to the first holes

Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Mini Golf

With 54 holes of “down on the farm” family fun, this mini-golf course features animated barnyard characters, water features, and interactive elements at every turn. Located at 188 Pkwy in Gatlinburg. (865) 436-5096.

Who doesn’t know the song? We all learned it as babies.

Old MACDONALD had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow
E-I-E-I-O
With a moo moo here
And a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O

Keep singing (you know you are): chickens, cats, pigs, goats, horses, turkeys …

Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini Golf

Parents and children playing mini golf

“Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier” – sing along!

With the Great Smoky Mountains as the backdrop, this course replicates the “old days” when a Tennessee hero named Davy Crockett roamed “them thar hills” as “king of the wild frontier.” There are barn animals, waterfalls, bridges, trees – fun for all ages.

The course is named for Davy Crockett who was a frontiersman, soldier, politician, congressman and prolific storyteller. His adventures — both real and fictitious — earned him American folk hero status. Born in eastern Tennessee, Crockett’s death at the Battle of the Alamo burnished his reputation as a hero and cemented his legendary status.

Find Davy Crockett Mini Golf at 1639 Parkway in Sevierville. (865) 436-5096.

Gatlin’s Mini Golf

The 18-hole Old Town Square course features trick shots and is located in the middle of all of the restored historical cabins. Discover how Gatlinburg got its name and other interesting trivia about the quaint mountain town.

The Grist Mill, Primitive Baptist Church, Pi Beta Phi settlement school and the Gatlinburg Jail recreate early landmarks that are significant to our history. Don’t forget to bring your camera because you will be surrounded by some of the most photographed spots in Gatlinburg.

Gatlin’s is located at Reagan Terrace Mall, 716 Parkway, Gatlinburg, (865) 339-3323.

Hillbilly Golf

ride up the mountain at Hillbilly Golf

Ride the incline 300 feet above Gatlinburg to play the world’s most unusual miniature golf. Two 18-hole courses with challenging mountaineer hazards. Hillbilly Golf is one of Gatlinburg’s oldest attractions. Hit your golf ball through outhouses and moonshine stills in the woods for a fun day of mini golf.

Hillbilly Golf is located at 340 Parkway, Gatlinburg, (865) 436-7470

Treasure Quest Miniature Golf

Treasure Quest Golf is a championship 18-hole indoor miniature golf course filled with unusual and spectacular scenes. Five of the holes are in amazing black light! An ancient jungle temple is a backdrop in the center of downtown Gatlinburg.

Located at 653 Parkway, Gatlinburg, (865) 436-3972

Circus Golf

Alongside Gatlinburg’s original Mirror Maze, Circus Golf is a mini golf adventure with special FX blacklight mini golf that is half circus funhouse and half golf for 18 holes of entertainment!

Circus Golf, Located at 919 Parkway Gatlinburg, 865-896-2121

Gatlin’s Blacklight Golf

Tee up and take your golfing techniques to another level of play at one of the fun-filled blacklight miniature golf courses in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Play among a variety of scenic and challenging themes from a pirate village to skeletons and spacemen.

The under-the-sea adventure features tropical fish, dolphins, and a giant octopus. Along the course, lookout for an elusive mermaid and prepare for the challenge of the sunken pirate ship.

Gatlin’s Blacklight Golf is located at 716 Parkway in Gatlinburg; 865-339-3323

Movies Featuring Mini Golf

Two of my favorite movies featuring mini golf are “Overboard” and “Happy Gilmore.”

In “Overboard,” Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn star. Hawn is a wealthy, selfish yacht living woman who falls off her yacht and loses her memory. Kurt Russell finds her and to punish her for being mean to him when he worked for her, keeps her at his house, tells her they are married and makes here take care of his unruly sons. Russell’s dream is to build a unique mini golf feature.

In “Happy Gilmore,” Adam Sandler, is a rejected hockey player who puts his skills to the golf course to save his grandmother’s house. There is a slapstick mini golf scene that is hilarious.

Did you know there is a MiniGolf pro tour? There’s even a Pro MiniGolf Masters being held this year Oct. 6-10 in Hawaii. Competitors will compete on three courses: Aloha Mini Golf (Island Course-4 Rounds), Hawaiian Rumble (5 Rounds), and Hawaiian Village (Pineapple Beach-3 Rounds) for a total of 12 Rounds. All players will play 12 rounds.

Locally, the Mossy Creek Mini Golf in Jefferson City is holding the Tennessee State Open August 29 and is playing host to the U.S. Pro Mini Golf Open in 2022.

Plan Your Smoky Mountain Adventure!

Let’s plan your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and all the miniature golf adventures. Find a cabin near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Book online or give us a call at 888-876-6509.

After putting the night away, you’re going to want to have a cozy place to stay and retell the day’s stories and rib about who won and lost and the best shots. Book a Gatlinburg Cabin with a hot tub close to all the action so you’ll have the perfect place to unwind under the stars and tell tales.  Or find Pigeon Forge cabin to be near all the fun there.

Our professionally cleaned cabins are all over the Smoky Mountains, and we have plenty of beautiful, spacious cabins to choose from.  Booking a stay in a private cabin is even better than choosing a hotel!

Be sure to check out all our amazing featured deals. Check out our useful vacation guides that include insider tips to help you plan the perfect Smoky Mountain vacation.

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