How much space does a crazy golf course need?
Short answer: plan on about 35 m² per hole, walkways included, within a range of 25–50 m². A 9-hole indoor course needs about 315 m². Here's the table, where the numbers come from, and the things that eat space you didn't plan for.
| Holes | Compact | Typical | Roomy | Typical in ft² | e.g. a unit of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 150 m² | 210 m² | 300 m² | 2,260 ft² | 18 × 12 m |
| 9 | 225 m² | 315 m² | 450 m² | 3,390 ft² | 22 × 15 m |
| 12 | 300 m² | 420 m² | 600 m² | 4,520 ft² | 26 × 17 m |
| 18 | 450 m² | 630 m² | 900 m² | 6,780 ft² | 31 × 21 m |
“Compact”, “typical” and “roomy” are 25, 35 and 50 m² per hole. They cover the holes plus the walkways around them, not the bar, toilets, ticket desk or queue. The unit sizes are just one shape that area comes in; long, thin buildings work too.
Why a hole needs more floor than it looks
The playing surface of a crazy golf hole is small. A straight hole with a windmill is little more than a lane a metre wide and six or seven long. What takes the space is everything around it: a rail on each side, room for players to stand and wait, and a walkway so the next group can get past without stepping over someone's putt.
Here are the starter holes from the game, measured the way the venue planner places them:
| Hole | Par | Playing area | Tallest part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaside Warm-up | 2 | 1 × 5 m (5 m² of lane) | 0.1 m |
| Windmill Lane | 3 | 1 × 6 m (6 m² of lane) | 2.1 m |
| Loop the Loop | 3 | 1 × 6 m (6 m² of lane) | 0.5 m |
| Plank Walk | 3 | 4 × 3 m (6 m² of lane) | 0.3 m |
| Jungle Jump | 3 | 1 × 6 m (6 m² of lane) | 0.12 m |
| Neon Spinner | 3 | 1 × 5 m (5 m² of lane) | 0.35 m |
| Split Decision | 3 | 3 × 5 m (10 m² of lane) | 0.1 m |
| Up and Over | 3 | 1 × 6 m (6 m² of lane) | 0.17 m |
| Dogleg Finale | 4 | 3 × 6 m (8 m² of lane) | 0.12 m |
A straight hole's lane is only 5–6 m², but once you add a walkway of at least 1.2 m down one side and around the tee and cup, it takes 20–25 m². Doglegs and holes with a bridge or split path spread wider, which is why the typical figure is 35 m² and themed holes with big scenery push towards 50 m².
Walkways and the step-free route
- 1.2 m clear walkways between holes, walls and fittings, so a group can pass a group that's putting.
- A step-free route at least 0.9 m wide from the entrance to every tee, the bar and the toilets, for wheelchairs and buggies. Ramps and raised holes are fine; the route to them has to stay flat or gently sloped.
- Fire exits kept clear for 1.2 × 1.5 m in front of each door, with every hole within about 45 m of an exit.
Walkways are where courses quietly lose holes. Two holes side by side need a walkway between them, and it's easy to draw that walkway at 80 cm on paper and discover it at the fit-out.
Ceiling height
Players need about 2.4 m clear to swing a putter without catching a light or a beam. Obstacles need their own headroom on top: the planner allows 0.3 m above the tallest part of each hole. A classic windmill stands 2.1 m, so a hole with one needs at least 2.4 m. A loop is only 0.5 m tall, so stunt holes rarely set the ceiling; windmills, lighthouses and big scenery do.
Most industrial units have 5 m or more under the haunch, which is plenty. Basements, shop units and old pubs are where you have to check: a ceiling right at the 2.4 m minimum suits a neon course of low holes, but leaves nothing to spare for tall scenery.
The space around the course
The table is the course only. A venue also needs:
- An entrance and ticket desk, with a queue that doesn't block the first tee. Hole 1 should start within 10 m of the desk so players find it straight away.
- A bar, ideally where the last hole finishes: within 10 m of the final cup, players finish and buy a drink.
- Toilets, a store and staff space, which your landlord's floor plan may or may not already include.
As a rough rule, allow another 30–50% of the course area for all of that in a bar-led venue, and less in a family attraction without a bar.
Flow: why the order of holes matters
Players should never wonder where the next tee is. Keep each cup within about 8 m of the next hole's tee, and number the holes so the route snakes round the building without crossing itself. A course that crosses itself needs wider walkways and still feels crowded.
Check your own building. Draw the outline to scale (or start from a warehouse template), drop in holes, and the planner measures walkways, headroom, flow and fire exits as you go. Designing is free.
Plan my siteRules of thumb for early planning, not a building-regulations, fire-safety or accessibility compliance check. Get a fire risk assessment and building control advice before you build.