Disneyland Hotel Miniature Golf, 1971

This November 1971 shot was taken from the Disneyland Hotel. So many things to see here! Below, you can see the Midcentury Modern Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, with Tomorrowland in the foreground. I see the Rocket Jets, I see the Carousel of Progress…yes, Romper Room at it's very best (IFKYK).



In this detailed view, you can see the Matterhorn Christmas star, still twinkling away.



Here, you see the sign for the Golf Course and Mini Golf Course. What?!? Yes…at one time you could play golf at Disneyland.



Below is a shot I took back in May 2004; same view, but way different sights! Downtown Disney and mature trees have almost made this image unrecognizable compared to the 1971 shot.





The August 1961 Disneylander Newsletter featured this info about the miniature golf course:

The most interesting miniature 18 hole course is practically a replica of Disneyland itself. It will be completely lighted for night play and many feel it will be so popular with Disneylanders as well as Hotel guests and residents of the Disneyland area that it will be the wee small hours of the morning before it closes for the night. Each hole on the miniature course will remind players of one of Disneyland's many features. As an example, the first tee is a replica of the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad Station at the Main Entrance to the Park, while the third tee has a miniature of the Fantasyland castle, draw bridge, courtyard parapet and rock island. The fifth tee represents the Matterhorn ticket office and the hole will feature raceways to three separate greens and will include two metal tubes for crossing the bobsled waterways. The seventh, eighth and ninth holes will remind players of the Rocket to the Moon, the Submarine Voyage and the Richfield Autopia respectively while the eleventh will consist of rock work, benches, and simulated cacti. The Frontierland area is easily recognized in the next three holes with a reproduction of the Frontierland Fort entrance, Indian Village and the Grist Mill on Tom Sawyer's Island. The popular Story Book Land adventure is reproduced on the fifteenth hole with a replica of Monstro the Whale while Peter Pan and the adventures of the Darling children will be seen and enjoyed on the next hole. The eighteenth and final hole will feature a water fountain showing Mickey Mouse himself, holding a golf club, which will make a fitting finale to a delightful experience for anyone who cares to play a game of miniature golf, the Disneyland Hotel way. The Disney art director on the miniature course has been Yale Gracey and Al Applegate [Engineering] has acted as the coordinator of construction. Other Disneyland experts who have supervised the construction include Andy Anderson [Carpentry], Larry Smith [Paint Department] and Bud Washo [Staff Shop]. Their advice is that even Disneylanders who have never had a golf club in their hands should be sure to try a game as soon as possible.



The above and below images were supplied by Daveland reader Ross; a score card and a view from the Park map showing the location of the golf course, driving range, and miniature golf course.



See more Disneyland Hotel photos at my main website.