Anyone who has played golf knows it can be a great way to get outdoors with friends or family. It can also be expensive and incredibly frustrating. For every long drive, great chip shot or satisfying putt, there can be just as many lost balls, maddening misfires and missed putts. Welcome to the game of golf!  

If grinding out another 18 holes on your free-time is making you anxious, don’t worry. There are other golf-related options that are more relaxing and affordable, and that offer a challenge for anyone with a competitive streak.   

Miniature golf, mini-golf, mini-putt, putt-putt golf, crazy golf  — whatever you want to call it, this scaled-down adaptation of the regular game has a long history.

The game’s focus on the skill of putting, usually over short distances on...