History of Pitch and Putt
Pitch and putt grew out of the short courses that sprang up alongside golf in Britain and Ireland, and became a sport in its own right in the 20th century, most strongly in Ireland. It keeps the heart of golf, getting a ball into a hole in as few strokes as possible, but squeezes it into short par 3 holes and a handful of clubs.
What makes pitch and putt different
Pitch and putt is not mini golf, and it isn't just a short golf course. In its organised form it has its own rules:
| Pitch and putt | Par 3 course | Mini golf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hole length | Short, up to about 70 metres under international rules | Usually longer, often 100 yards and up | A few metres |
| Clubs | Up to three | A full set allowed | A putter only |
| Surface | Grass tees, fairways and greens | Grass, like a normal course | Artificial carpet and obstacles |
| Par | Every hole is a par 3 | Every hole is a par 3 | Varies by hole |
So a round is all about wedges, short irons and putting. There's no driver, and the skills that matter most are distance control and holing out.
Short golf before pitch and putt
Golfers have always played short versions of the game. One of the oldest examples is the Ladies' Putting Club at St Andrews, founded in 1867, whose putting green known as "the Himalayas" is still open today. In the Victorian era, women's golf was often limited to short courses and putting greens, and these spaces gave many people their first taste of the game.
As golf boomed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, short courses appeared in hotel grounds, holiday resorts and private estates. They needed less land, less maintenance and less time than a full course.
Parks and seaside resorts
In the 20th century, councils and holiday towns in Britain and Ireland began laying out short courses in public parks and along seafronts. For a small fee you could hire a couple of clubs and a ball and play a round in an hour. For many families this was the most common way to try golf: no membership, no dress code and no long walk.
Similar ideas spread elsewhere. In the United States, par 3 courses became popular for beginners, juniors and quick rounds. Augusta National even has its own short course, which has hosted the Masters Par 3 Contest on the eve of the tournament since 1960.
Ireland makes it a sport
Ireland is where pitch and putt turned from a pastime into a competitive sport. Courses grew in number from the mid-20th century, and the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland was set up in the 1960s to run the game nationally, with clubs, handicaps, leagues and championships.
The Irish game shaped the modern rules: short holes, a limit of three clubs, and a strong club culture. Today Ireland still has the biggest pitch and putt scene in the world.
Pitch and putt goes international
From Ireland the organised game spread to other parts of Europe. Catalonia, the Netherlands, Italy and Great Britain all developed their own associations, and international bodies now run European and world championships between national teams. In some places, especially Catalonia, pitch and putt courses became a popular, affordable route into golf.
Why pitch and putt lasts
- Quick: 18 holes can take well under two hours.
- Cheap: green fees and equipment cost much less than golf.
- Easy to start: you only need a wedge, a short iron and a putter.
- Great practice: a big share of every golf score comes from chips, pitches and putts.
If you want to know what a modern course looks like, see what is a pitch and putt course?
Try it in Mashy
Mashy is built in the same spirit: a pitch and putt style game with irons, chips and putts, and no driver or woods. Its holes are a little longer than a strict pitch and putt course, with par 4s as well as par 3s, but the skills are the same: pick the right iron, control your distance and hole the putt. It's free in your browser, with nothing to download.
More reading: golf clubs explained: irons, chips and putts and mini golf vs pixel golf.
Frequently asked questions
Is pitch and putt the same as golf?
Pitch and putt is a short form of golf with its own rules. Every hole is a par 3, holes are much shorter, and players usually carry only a few clubs. The basics are the same: hit the ball from the tee into the hole in as few strokes as possible.
How many clubs can you use in pitch and putt?
Under international pitch and putt rules, players may carry up to three clubs, typically a wedge, a short iron and a putter. Casual courses that hire out equipment often hand you just two clubs, an iron and a putter, which is plenty for a fun round.
Where is pitch and putt most popular?
Ireland has the biggest pitch and putt scene, with many clubs, leagues and championships run by its national governing body. The sport is also well established in Catalonia, the Netherlands, Italy and Great Britain, and international teams compete in European and world championships.
What is the difference between pitch and putt and a par 3 course?
Both have only par 3 holes, but pitch and putt holes are shorter, up to about 70 metres under international rules, and the number of clubs is limited. A par 3 course usually has longer holes and lets you carry a full set of clubs.
Can you play pitch and putt online?
Yes. Mashy is a free pixel-art golf game in the browser built around irons, chips and putts, with no driver. It has five 9-hole courses mixing par 3s and par 4s, and you can start a round as a guest with no download or sign-up.