Microgolf

Microgolf is a micro-scale variant of golf designed for indoor play on very small surfaces, such as tabletop mats or modular mini courses. The format emphasizes precision, control, and planning rather than power, and it is commonly pursued as a hobby, educational tool, or casual entertainment in homes, classrooms, and dedicated hobby spaces.

Equipment and course design for microgolf typically includes miniature clubs or sticks suited to the small playing surface, soft plastic or lightweight balls, and a variety of obstacles and ramps arranged on compact mats or boards. Courses may be assembled from commercially available microgolf kits, repurposed household objects, or custom-built layouts. Surfaces are chosen to provide predictable friction and bounce, while obstacles test line aiming, speed control, and angle management. Some setups incorporate ball-tracking features or simple scoring markers to aid play.

Rules and scoring in microgolf generally mirror traditional golf in structure: players complete each hole in as few strokes as possible, with total strokes determining the winner. Par values are scaled to the hole length and complexity, and common variants include stroke play, match play, and point-based scoring. Because the scale magnifies minor errors, players often plan shots in advance, accounting for obstacles, surface imperfections, and the physics of small-ball motion.

History and usage of microgolf are not as formally documented as those of larger-scale games. It emerged from the broader interest in miniature and tabletop gaming, as hobbyists adapted golf concepts to tiny formats. In education, microgolf concepts can illustrate basic physics of projectile motion, friction, and geometry. The activity remains a niche pastime, overlapping with tabletop games, model sports, and maker culture. See also miniature golf, tabletop games, and golf physics.