Geneva in Ashtabula County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Miniature Golf

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 19, 2021

1. Miniature Golf Marker

Top caption
A postcard shows the beautifully landscaped miniature golf course as it appeared before carpet turfs. Miniature golf spread rapidly across the U.S. after a suitable artificial green was invented by Thomas McCulloch Fairbairn. Top postcard: The course at a later date shows the evolution of the concession stand at the corner of the course.
Jack Sargent GOTL collection

Inset
PUTT-PUTT Erwin's Putt-Putt course was built on land purchased from Howard Warner by Jerry Laurie, who sold the course to Dave Ramsey in 1968. It stood in front of The Colonial, across from Mapleton Beach.

Inscription. Miniature Golf became popular in the United States during the 1920s. GOTL's course is based upon the design used by courses that New York City's millionaires had built on the rooftops of their penthouses when miniature golf was a faddish game for the rich.

The village's oldest miniature golf course was built in 1924. Its owners claim that it is the oldest of its kind in continuous play- that is while other miniature golf courses pre-date this one, they no longer exist.

Owners have included Victor Goettel, Herb Thomas and his son Richard Thomas. Bill and Georgette Allison purchased the course in 1981. The Allisons revamped the course with artificial greens and removed the excess landscaping while preserving the layout and challenging features of the original design.

There were at least two other miniature courses on The Strip. The Pera family had its Pier Golf Gardens in front of the Pier Ballroom. The Olympic Midway had an “obstacle golf" course at the rear of the arcade.

Erected by Ashtabula County Civic Development Corporation, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Sponsored by the Allison Family.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 41° 51.618′ N, 80° 57.113′ W. Marker is in Geneva, Ohio, in Ashtabula County. It can be reached from the intersection of Lake Road East (Ohio Route 531) and Golf Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5456 Lake Rd E, Geneva OH 44041, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ohio’s Lake Erie Shore

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Allison's Mini Golf 100th Anniversary 1924-2024 (here, next to this marker); Pier Ballroom (within shouting distance of this marker); The New Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); Fascination (within shouting distance

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 19, 2021

2. Miniature Golf Marker

of this marker); Olympic Midway (within shouting distance of this marker); Pera's Kiddieland (within shouting distance of this marker); Madsen Donuts (within shouting distance of this marker); Pergola Gardens (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Geneva.

Also see . . . Allison's Mini Golf. (Submitted on June 21, 2021, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Kim Anderson, June 19, 2021

3. Miniature Golf Marker

Welcome
The Oldest Miniature Golf Course in the United States in Continuous play Established 1924

The Allison Family

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 25, 2025

4. Miniature Golf Marker

A plaque on the kiosk reads: "Allison's Mini Golf The oldest miniature golf course in the United States in continuous play. Celebrating 100 years. 1924-2024"

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 25, 2025

5. Miniature Golf Marker

The marker has become more faded and weather-damaged over time.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2021, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 705 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 21, 2021, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on June 27, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.