28 CFR Part 35 Title II Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) - Preamble (published 2008)

Miniature Golf Courses (Section-by-Section Analysis)

The Department proposes to adopt the requirements for miniature golf courses in the 2004 ADAAG.  However, it requests public comment on a suggested change to the requirement for holes to be consecutive.  A commenter association argued that the "miniature golf experience" includes not only putting but also enjoyment of "beautiful landscaping, water elements that include ponds, fountain displays, and lazy rivers that matriculate throughout the course and themed structures that allow players to be taken into a 'fantasy-like' area."  Thus, requiring a series of consecutive accessible holes would limit the experience of guests with disabilities to one area of the course.  To remedy this situation, the association suggests allowing multiple breaks in the sequence of accessible holes while maintaining the requirement that the accessible holes are connected by an accessible route. 

The suggested change would need to be made by the Access Board and then adopted by the Department, and if adopted, it would apply to all miniature golf courses, not only existing miniature golf facilities. 

Question 44:  The Department would like to hear from the public about the suggestion of allowing multiple breaks in the sequence of accessible holes, provided that the accessible holes are connected by an accessible route.  Should the Department ask the Access Board to change the current requirement in the 2004 ADAAG?