Mermaid Beach Putt Putt: Future revealed after big change
Mermaid Beach’s Putt Putt is one of the Gold Coast’s best-loved landmarks. This is the incredible story of its humble beginnings and some of its famous features.
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Putt Putt Mermaid Beach has been a Gold Coast landmark for more than five decades and entertained generations of locals and tourists.
It’s about to undergo a revamp after the family which founded it – the Wykoffs – sold it to JDA Hotels which operates the Mermaid Beach Tavern, Hotel CBD and Gold Coast Tavern.
The current management team will remain in place as part of a “seamless” transition.
JDA, owned and run by John, Dean and Alexandra Feros, has vowed to preserve the Gold Coast Highway tourist attraction, which has delighted tourists and locals since 1969, while tipping it will get a revamp.
“With their expertise in revitalising and transforming venues, JDA Hotels aims to enhance the magic of Putt Putt Mermaid Beach while staying true to its rich heritage and nostalgic charm,” the company said in a statement.
It’s the latest development in the history of that magical stretch of the highway which is well-remembered by generations of Gold Coasters who fondly look back at the heyday of the Mermaid Beach cinema, Queensland’s first McDonalds, Sizzlers and the miniature golf course.
Today, the Putt Putt is the sole survivor.
But many people don’t realise – the famous course actually started its life in the streets of central Surfers Paradise.
It was founded by Tom Wykoff who had become fascinated by the US phenomenon, which was devised in 1954.
Wykoff became interested in it while on an overseas holiday in 1965 and he went on to meet the creator of putt putt, Don Clayton.
By 1967 Mr Wykoff had led a dramatic expansion of putt putt across Africa, reportedly opening 64 18-hole courses in locations including South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
While these were enormously successful, a government-led crackdown led to the closure of the courses.
Mr Wykoff relocated to the Gold Coast in mid-1969 and relaunched his business, this time on Surfers Paradise’s Hanlan Street.
Its opening, on Friday September 19, 1969, came the same day the fate of a famous Gold Coast attraction of the previous 50 years was sealed.
The Gold Coast City Council that day announced it would move ahead with demolishing the old Southport pier cinema, which had fallen into disrepair.
But then-mayor Sir Bruce Small’s eyes were entirely focused on the future as he attended the opening of the Putt-Putt course, ceremonially hitting the first ball.
The course proved incredibly popular but its location in Surfers Paradise proved only temporary and it was forced to search for a new home.
By 1973 it relocated to its current site in central Mermaid Beach. This move, near the original Mermaid cinemas, sparked a mini boom in the area, with the McDonalds opening next door in August 1975.
The fast food palace soon proved to be a major drawcard which brought plenty of patrons to the golf course.
During the 1980s the course gained a video game arcade, which had some of the most popular games of that decade and into the 1990s, including Outrun, The Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
In the late 1980s the Mermaid Beach cinema expanded to become the largest in the state at the time, bringing with it Sizzlers and plenty of other businesses.
By the early 2000s things had changed – the McDonalds closed in the late 1990s and the cinema followed suit in 2003.
But the Putt Putt continued to thrive. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.
Mermaid Beach Putt Putt’s future revealed after big change
The family who have operated the Gold Coast’s most famous minigolf course for more than 54 years has sold it to a new owner planning a big revamp.
The Mermaid Beach Putt-Putt has been sold by the Wykoff family to JDA Hotels which operates the Mermaid Beach Tavern, Hotel CBD and Gold Coast Tavern.
The current management team will remain in place as part of a “seamless” transition.
JDA, owned and run by John, Dean and Alexandra Feros, have vowed to preserve the Gold Coast Highway tourist attraction, which has delighted tourists and locals since 1969, while tipping it will get a revamp.
“This joyous occasion marks a significant milestone as Putt Putt Mermaid Beach changes hands for the first time in more than 50 years, signalling a new chapter in its storeyed history,” JDA said in a statement.
“With their expertise in revitalising and transforming venues, JDA Hotels aims to enhance the magic of Putt Putt Mermaid Beach while staying true to its rich heritage and nostalgic charm.
“Since its establishment in 1969 by the Wykoff family, Putt Putt Golf has brought boundless laughter, unforgettable moments, and cherished memories to families and friends visiting the Gold Coast.
“With its whimsical and challenging miniature golf courses adorned with creative obstacles, vibrant landscapes, and interactive elements, this enchanting attraction has become an iconic symbol of fun and togetherness.”
It was founded by Tom Wykoff who had become fascinated by the US pastime, which was created in 1954.
Mr Wykoff relocated to the Gold Coast in mid-1969 and relaunched his business, this time on Surfers Paradise’s Hanlan Street.
By in 1973 it relocated to its current site in central Mermaid Beach where it soon became a landmark.
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