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The Panama City Beach Goofy Golf remains virtually unchanged since it opened in 1959. Its course includes a Sphinx, an Easter Island Head, a Buddha, a volcano, various monsters, a monkey, a dinosaur, a castle, a rocket ship, and more. Goofy Golf was invented by Lee Koplin who started his empire with a course in Biloxi, MS. He built similar courses in Pensacola, FL, Fort Walton Beach, FL, Reno, NV, and Galveston, TX. The earliest known Koplin course still in existence is Pee Wee Golf (Guerneville, CA) which was built in 1948.
This Panama City Beach was Koplin's biggest course. He even lived on site. This place is still owned and managed by Koplin's son. From the beginning, Goofy Golf focused on oversized and outrageous cement figures. The chain spread throughout the South and soon competition arose in FL (Holiday Golf, Zoo-Land Golf, Magic Carpet Golf), TN (Goony Golf and Jolly Golf), AL (Spooky Golf), and SC (Wacky Golf). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. For a fascinating history of miniature golf and other roadside attractions along Florida's Gulf Coast, check out Tim Hollis' book "Florida's Miracle Strip."
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