Beloved by a multitude of Americans, miniature golf courses have been around since the early 1900s. However, until the early 1990s, many of the miniature golf courses posed accessibility issues for people with disabilities. That’s because the course layouts typically featured steep slopes with narrow, unpaved walkways and artificial barriers. Nowadays, new miniature golf courses must meet ADA compliance standards. So how do you know if the miniature golf course located in your neighborhood is ADA compliant? Here’s a quick overview of the basics:
In order to meet ADA compliance standards, the miniature golf course’s layout must be wheelchair accessible. That means that any slopes present must have a gradient of 1:48 or less and landings that are 48 inches by 60 inches. There shouldn’t be any removable curbs or barriers either. Furthermore, the course must have a consistent, accessible route within the play area that ends at the exit. The accessible route is subject to wheelchair friendly slope and width requirements as well.
In addition, at least half of the holes must be accessible to golfers with disabilities. The holes should be consecutive and the indoor/outdoor grass leading up to them must also meet ADA compliance standards. In other words, the indoor/outdoor grass must be slip resistant and appropriately attached to the concrete so as to avoid being a hindrance or a hazard.
If it turns out that the miniature golf course in your neighborhood is not adhering to ADA compliance standards, there are actions that you can take. One of them is contacting us. We here at Access Advocates specialize in helping disabled individuals ensure that areas like miniature golf courses meet ADA compliance standards. Our services are free and easy to use. All you need to do is call and file a complaint. Once the complaint is filed, we’ll get to work on ensuring that the miniature golf course owner brings the facility into compliance. To learn more about the complaint and resolution process,call 1-702-649-7575. You may also feel free to leave a message on the Access Advocate’s website or Facebook page.
Image courtesy Flickr user Bill78704