![Minigolf quickly became a popular sport. Possibly also because the courses were standardised from 1954.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/minigolf-titel-300x225.jpg)
The birth of modern minigolf
Minigolf is not a 20th century invention. In fact, the story of how it evolved to become the pastime we know today is a long one, and even has a Swiss chapter involving Genevan architect Paul Bongni.
![Old Tom Morris (second left) watches women playing golf in St Andrews, 1894.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/frauengolf-st-andrews-300x164.jpg)
![Old Tom Morris on the golf course, circa 1905.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/old-tom-morris-233x300.jpg)
![In 1919 the magazine Popular Science dedicated a double-page spread to James Wells Barber’s minigolf course.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/artikel-mini-golf-300x214.jpg)
Minigolf in the 1930s. YouTube
![Ascona’s minigolf course when it opened in 1954.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Minigolf-Ascona-1-300x199.jpg)
![Swiss national Miranda Graf was world minigolf champion in 1991.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/miranda-graf-weltmeisterin-minigolf-233x300.jpg)