Goofy Golf: Nostalgic Fun at Fort Walton Beach
Sure, golfing at the local country club might be classy, but where’s the fun in endless stretches of green grass? Wouldn’t you much rather golf with a giant, green dinosaur instead?
Well, I have some great news for you! Located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, there’s an amazing little attraction: the oldest surviving Goofy Golf!
Goofy Golf is the best of the best when it comes to putt putt courses. It has the wonderful whimsy of the very first miniature golf courses to sprout up across the United States during the Nifty Fifties—largely because this one is still all original!
Both affordable and fun, you can’t beat playing a round or two at Goofy Golf. It’s truly a hole-in-one!
Goofy Moves to Florida
Now, this may come as a shock, but there was a Goofy in Florida before the arrival of Walt Disney World. This Goofy wasn’t a yellow dog or even a person. Instead, it was a place with a pledge to create an environment of frivolous fun.
The game of golf (not the goofy kind) was invented in Scotland centuries ago, but miniature golf is a more recent development.1 Its exact origins are unknown, but The Ladies’ Putting Club of St. Andrews, created in 1867, is considered the first known putting club. (The club was founded to protest the societal rule that women couldn’t raise their clubs back past their shoulders. How else are you supposed to launch a golf ball across a field??)2 However, even this iteration of golf was not the wonderfully goofy kind.
It was not until 1916, when James Barber of North Carolina built a miniature golf course with fountains, gardens, and patterned walkways, that the idea of adding extra novelty to the mini-sport took off.3
Eventually, miniature golf was a popular pastime popping up across the United States and Goofy Golf graced Fort Walton with its whimsy in 1958. Built by father-son duo, James W. “Jimmy” Hayes and Raymond “Buddy” Hayes, Goofy Golf’s courses were full of unique sculptures, bright colors, and challenging holes, providing patrons with a friendly and memorable putt putt experience.4
Everything was lovingly hand-built, but the most memorable installment on the premises was “Hammy,” a giant, green dinosaur. Standing at 23-feet tall and made of cement, Hammy was the perfect greeter. In 2003, Hammy tragically collapsed and lay in pieces for several years before being revived, Jurassic Park style, to his former glory. Thank goodness! Seeing Hammy is definitely a Goofy Golf highlight.5
Today, Goofy Golf is run with the intention of keeping it exactly as it was in 1958, allowing visitors to enjoy a trip back in time to America’s golden era of classic cars, doo-wop, and of course, putt putt.
Goofy Golf—Go Fore It!
When this one-of-a-kind putt putt extravaganza first opened, prices were set at 50 cents per child and 75 cents per adult. Today, it’s still incredibly affordable at only $1.50 for children (under 12) and $3.00 for adults.6 That’s less expensive than a caramel frappe! Just make sure to bring cash, then you’re all set for a couple of hour’s worth of eccentric entertainment.
Goofy Golf offers two great courses. Both are eighteen holes each, sharing the last hole: the iconic snake’s mouth. (If you can get your ball into the snake’s mouth on your first shot, you can win a free pass for your next round of putt putt!) The two courses vary in difficulty, so you can choose your putt putt path depending on how ambitious you’re feeling.
Both routes are full of tricky trials to test your mini-golf skills. Ramps, tunnels, and vicious curves all stand in the way of your perfect score. (Not to mention plenty of adorable concrete animals, lovingly repainted to life over the years!) Can you figure out how to putt a perfect hole-in-one at each stop?
Now, don’t let the “mini” in “miniature golf” make you think this is only for kids! While it’s definitely an awesome place to play with the kiddos, Goofy Golf also welcomes plenty of fun-loving adults to the course on a regular basis. After all, the pursuit of happiness is an ageless endeavor! Goofy Golf makes for a laid-back (or somewhat competitive) afternoon with friends or even a cute date!
As an outdoor facility, hours do depend on the weather being nice. If in doubt, you can call ahead to make sure they’re open. As a general rule, they’re open from 3 pm to 8 pm on weekdays, and 10 am to 8 pm on weekends!
After serving the community for over 50 years, Goofy Golf still brings in rave reviews on TripAdvisor. The courses might be old, but that doesn’t mean they’re outdated. Every golfer who comes to play has been enamored by the park’s inextinguishable charm.
Oh, and everyone falls in love with Hammy, of course. You definitely need to take a dino-mite selfie with this T-Rex when you visit! (Sorry, puns are par for the course when you’re with me, LOL!)
Make A Day Of Fort Walton
You can opt to play both courses at Goofy Golf, but if you’re still looking to round out your day trip, or perhaps fill up an entire weekend, there’s plenty to do in Fort Walton!
You can meet adorable dolphins, silly sea lions, and playful penguins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, or try out some wacky experiments at the local Emerald Coast Science Center. Additionally, you can catch some great waves and sink your toes into the soft, sugar-white sands of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
There are also a few other places to golf… but none have the character to match the one and only Goofy Golf!
Have you been to Goofy Golf? What’s your best score? Tell us all about your goofy game in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Mike Towber via Flickr
Recommended Gear for this Adventure
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
