The owners of the Puttin’-A-Round in Miami, Oklahoma, hadn’t planned to put a restaurant there, but as they began to tear down the former doors-and-windows store, they changed their plans for a mini-storage business.
Larry and Sue Smith of nearby Picher, Oklahoma, told the Miami News Record they bought the property at 725 N. Main St. (aka Route 66) in Miami a few years ago.
During the demolition phase of construction, Larry discovered a hole buried deep into the ground.
He initially thought it was a hole for fuel lines since a gas station used to sit atop of the grounds in the 1930s. After realizing it wasn’t, he thought it might have been used for a flag pole until he found multiple holes in the ground. […]
What they discovered was a vintage miniature golf course underneath of the asphalt. Being from Picher and the grounds located on Route 66, the Smiths knew the significance of preserving the site’s history and kept the course.
“The golf course was covered up,” Larry said. “Everything on this property was covered up. When I found the mini golf course and this being on Route 66, I didn’t want to tear up history. It was in good enough condition that most of what’s out there could be restored. That’s what was here, and that’s what I’m going to protect.”
The Smiths now are renovating the miniature golf course on the rear of the property. Nobody so far remembers what the golf course’s name was, but estimated it operated for a short time during the 1960s.
The new course is set to open in Spring 2017. The Smiths said it will cost $2 per ball and there will be 18 holes total once completed. Larry said he will even have a mine derrick at the last hole like the ones in Picher, so it would look like the ball is going down a mineshaft.
The Smiths said a miniature golf course can’t make it on its own financially. So they opened a restaurant at the property as well, selling hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian ice and frozen custard.
Puttin’-A-Round is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Nice!
It would be nice to see a photo of what is there now. Both Google maps maps seem to show an abandoned Ford dealership. Photos of the burgers and hot dogs are good, but do not give one sense of place to motivate a drop by visit when passing Miami. Just sayin’
I messaged the restaurant a week ago about photos, but never received a reply.
Ron, somehow I lost the plot on this story and re-reading it doesn’t seem to help. It is clearly stated that the miniature golf course being refurbished is scheduled to open in spring of this year, but it also says Puttin’ A-round is currently open 11-8, Tues-Sat. Is that just the eatery or is there a brand new mini golf course open, too, with the old course that is being restored, to open later?
The restaurant is open; the golf course will open later.
Interesting. I drove through Miami in early Dec believe I passed this. I thought this was the remains of a golf course. Not the beginnings. Very cool.
Interesting they are from Pitcher. I thought all the houses had been torn down and the town abandoned after the EPA buy out. Kind of odd to drive around the streets with slabs and foundations but no homes. Hope the food is good always looking for a place to eat when I am in Miami.