Everything's Coming Up Windmills - Photoblog

There are many obstacles associated with mini golf, oversized/undersized animals, the practically requisite lighthouse, creepy houses that threaten to devour your ball forever in their mysterious interiors, but what self-respecting course does not have its quintessential windmill?

On this Labor Day weekend, it seems fitting to pay homage to the unofficial end of summer with a small tribute (no pun intended) to this mini golf staple. I will add images as I take them or find them, so please feel free to come back.



This windmill not only provides the challenge of providing safe passage to the hole but the player's sense of balance as well.





Emerging eloquently from the bushes, colorful blades distract from the fact that they do not provide any challenge to golfers.







Even the most rudimentary courses know the importance of having a 'mill.










Perhaps the most beautiful windmill I have ever seen, this little beauty has a Victorian Caribbean chic. It also has an unusual side entrance.











Does IKEA design mini golf courses as well? This 'mill has the trandmark simple, clean, Scandinavian design, not to mention IKEA colors to boot! The coordinating ball is an especially nice touch!










A nice, classic windmill that seemingly comes with optional human distractors. They may be smiling now, but just you wait.




Hitchcock's windmill? Very beautiful and ominous.







Similar to its large-scaled counterparts, this 'mill has seen better days and now operates as a tourist attraction.










Who said miniature golf had to be mini! The is the largest "mini" windmill I have ever seen.











What's better than a macro "mini" mill? A mini mini 'mill that doubles as an airplane propeller. Many thanks to Putting Penguin for sending this along.







Another simple and stark tribute to European design, perched atop its own little hill.






I think we now all know the answer to what happens when you cross a cow with a windmill. The details of this little 'mill are impressive; the base, black painted on white subtly contrasts with blades painted with white spots on a black background. An unusual animal/inanimate object combination, but nonetheless a visually captivating and challenging specimen.







Calling the Moulin Rouge, I think you lost your windmill.








This hole cleverly combines elements of a lighthouse with the blades of a windmill, a perfect hybrid for a New England course. Although the heavy use of diamond shaped detailing provides a not-so-subtle tribute to Vegas. Many thanks to Putting Penguin for sending this along.






This mill exhibits a pleasing feng shui balance and, might I add, those blades look as though they will shred balls in half. Many thanks to Putting Penguin for sharing this photo.










Attack of the "waffle bladed" mass produced windmills #1.







How do you make a mass produced windmill seem novel? Add extraneous titlting, disorienting, shrubbery and a water hazard.





Is the fence keeping the windmill in or players out? And by the way, you are not seeing in triplicate, this is the same basic windmill making appearances in the previous two photos.








Like a blue Phoenix rising out of the Phoenix desert, this beautiful and substantial windmill incongruously mingles with the surrounding palm trees.










Boston has its "Green Monster." This golf course has a yellow monster. I wonder what lurks behind the two-toned window.











It is so rare to get a look at mini golf from the windmill's point of view. Is this 'mill stalking its player? Now there's a great B, C, or D grade concept for a horror film!









Windmills have been an important staple of mini golf from the beginning as this image from around 1930 attests.









Another maxi mini golf sized 'mill with plenty of details. Just look at the impressive woodwork around the railing and the blue/gray color coordindation.









The Amazing Technicolor Windmill!









Russia meet Holland, Holland Meet Russia.












This is a very unusual windmill indeed! It not only has a Bauhaus sensibility, but the larger set of blades at the top of the windmill only serve to distract from the smaller set below. A windmill within a windmill - that's innovation.






Happy golfing!


Image credits in the order they appear: pbo31, inkynobaka, MeadowlandsLibertyCVB.c om, Jess Hutch, Neato Coolville, Ann Dee Scraps, busysignals, FRaNKy--, misocrazy, Putting Penguin, Mini Golf Enthusiast, Mini Golf Enthusiast, Sam Lundquist, Putting Penguin, Putting Penguin, Andy Gosling, Devon Cliffs Haven Holiday Park, Hastings Crazy Golf, FuzzyCo, The Effigy, Momma Bird79, The National Building Musuem, vomsorb,James Vornov, Leisure Time Development, Gobo Gal.

tags: mini golf | minigolf | miniature golf | pop culture | windmill | photoblog | photography