James Barber
Around 1916, a man named James Barber developed a miniature golf course in North Carolina called "Thistle Dhu." The course was putting-only and featured gardens, fountains and geometric walkways. Legend has it that after the course was built, Mr. Barber looked it over and said, "This'll do," thus naming the first mini-golf course in America.
Thistle Dhu, however, was made for experienced golfers only. Most of the surfaces were concrete and pressed sand, with tiny greens.
