Build a Cardboard Mini Golf Course for Indoors
A homemade mini golf course turns an ordinary lounge room, hallway or covered veranda into a playful activity for rainy afternoons and school holidays. With recycled cardboard, paper tubes and a few household supplies, children can design obstacles, practise putting and invent a course that changes every time they play.
This project suits families in a Sydney flat, a Melbourne terrace or a spacious home in Brisbane. It is inexpensive, easy to pack away and flexible enough for different ages. The finished course can be bright and imaginative, or styled around a party theme, favourite sport or Australian backyard scene.
| Course Feature | Easy Material | Useful For |
|---|---|---|
| Fairway | Flattened cardboard boxes | A smooth putting surface |
| Side rails | Cereal boxes or cardboard strips | Keeping the ball in play |
| Hole cup | Paper bowl or small box | Catching the ball |
| Ramp | Folded corrugated cardboard | Adding height and challenge |
| Tunnel | Mailing tube or cereal box | Creating a hidden route |
| Decorations | Paper, paint and markers | Personalising each hole |
Choose A Simple Indoor Layout
Start with three to six holes rather than attempting a full miniature golf course. A small course is easier to build, move and store, especially in compact homes or apartments. Arrange the holes along a hallway, around the edge of a lounge room or across a cleared dining area.
Measure the available floor space before cutting cardboard. Leave a clear path around furniture and keep the course away from glass doors, sharp corners and electrical cords. In Australian homes, polished timber, tiles and low-pile carpet can all work, although a carpeted surface may slow the ball slightly.
Use masking tape to mark where each fairway will sit. Give every hole a number and a different challenge, such as a bend, ramp, tunnel or banked corner. A varied layout keeps the game interesting without requiring complicated construction.
Gather Cardboard And Household Materials
Collect sturdy boxes from recent deliveries, cereal packets, tissue cartons and toilet rolls. A large appliance box makes an excellent base, while smaller boxes are useful for walls and raised obstacles. Local supermarkets, neighbours and community noticeboards can often provide clean cardboard at no cost.
For extra supplies, Bunnings is useful for painter’s tape, craft glue and lightweight PVC pieces, while Kmart and Officeworks commonly stock poster paint, markers and coloured card. Choose water-based, washable materials where possible, especially when younger children are helping.
You will also need scissors, a ruler, a pencil, a craft knife for adult use, and lightweight plastic balls. Foam practice golf balls are safer indoors than standard golf balls. Small tennis balls can work for larger children, but they require a wider course and stronger barriers.
Build The Base And Obstacles
Cut cardboard into long fairway panels, aiming for a width of about 30 to 45 centimetres. Join shorter pieces underneath with wide strips of tape. Reinforce any soft or bending sections with a second layer, particularly where a ramp or obstacle will be placed.
Make side rails from strips of cardboard folded into an L shape. Tape them along both edges of the fairway, leaving a low opening at the end for the ball to enter the cup. For a more polished finish, cover the surface with green paper or leftover wrapping paper, then add white lines, numbered flags and decorative borders.
Create a cup by cutting a hole into a shallow cardboard box or taping a paper bowl beneath an opening. If you do not want to cut the playing surface, place a small container at the end of the fairway as a target. Test the ball several times and adjust the height until it drops in reliably.
Add Ramps Tunnels And Hazards
A ramp can be made by folding cardboard into a gentle slope and supporting it with small boxes. Secure every join with tape so the ramp does not collapse during play. A low incline is best for beginners, while older children may enjoy a steeper rise followed by a short downhill section.
For a tunnel, remove both ends from a cereal box or use a wide mailing tube. Position it straight for an easy hole or at an angle for a trickier shot. Paper cups, cardboard arches and folded bridges can become extra hazards without taking up much room.
Keep obstacles broad and stable rather than tall and loose. A moving decoration can frustrate players and send balls under furniture. If the course is being used during a summer heatwave in Adelaide or Perth, build it in the coolest indoor room and avoid leaving painted cardboard in direct sun, where it may warp.
Add Rules Scoring And Family Flair
A simple scoring system makes the course accessible to children and adults. Give each hole a par score based on its difficulty, then record the number of shots each player takes. The lowest total wins, although younger players may prefer collecting stickers or earning a small paper trophy for completing every hole.
Add a theme to make the activity suitable for a birthday party or weekend craft session. A beach course could include paper seashells and a cardboard lifesaver tower, while a sports theme might use green-and-gold flags, cricket stumps or a tiny Australian rules football goal. For a Melbourne-inspired course, create a laneway hole with painted brick walls and colourful paper street art.
Use reusable decorations so the course can be redesigned for different occasions. Numbered flags, removable tape and separate obstacle pieces make it easy to change the layout without rebuilding every fairway.
Make The Course Safer And Stronger
A thoughtful build keeps the game fun and protects floors, furniture and small players. Check every edge before play, cover sharp corners with tape and keep craft knives, hot glue and staples away from children. Do not use fragile glass, heavy ornaments or objects that could become dangerous when hit by a ball.
- Use foam practice balls for most indoor games.
- Reinforce ramps and rails with a second layer of cardboard.
- Keep each hole wide enough for an easy putting stance.
- Add non-slip tape beneath moving sections.
- Test every obstacle before inviting younger children to play.
- Store the course flat in a dry cupboard between sessions.
- Recycle damaged pieces instead of forcing them back into use.
Give the finished course a short trial round before decorating it fully. This reveals weak joins, overly difficult corners and places where the ball disappears beneath furniture. A few minutes of testing can save a great deal of repainting and retaping later.
Cardboard mini golf is especially useful during wet winter weekends, school holiday afternoons and indoor birthday parties. When the game is over, stack the panels behind a wardrobe or under a bed, then bring them out for a fresh course design next time.
Gather a few boxes, choose a clear patch of floor and start with one simple hole today. Invite the family to decorate the obstacles, keep score and rebuild the layout whenever the game needs a new challenge.