Sixteen years ago, brothers Jim and Greg Papas decided to buy a little piece of history. In 1995 the pair - already the owners of the Parkside Diner on Culver Road in Irondequoit - purchased the neighboring Whispering Pines miniature golf course, an 18-hole treasure fitted nicely into a third of an acre in the historic neighborhood of Seabreeze.

Constructed in 1930, Whispering Pines stands as the oldest continuously operating, unaltered miniature golf course in the country, and the first such attraction to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places (under one of its previous names, Tall Maples).

The fact that Whispering Pines even survived the Great Depression is a testament to its staying power. After a mini-golf boom in the 1920's - at the peak of the sport's popularity, tens of thousands of courses existed in the United States - the severe economic downturn led to the demolition of the vast majority of them in the 1930's. But following World War II, miniature golf gradually regained its popularity, to the point that the second Saturday of May has served as National Miniature Golf Day since 2007.

The term "miniature golf" describes the sport well. Miniature-golf courses were originally designed to literally be a small-sized replica of regular golf courses. Instead of a bag full of clubs, mini-golf requires only a putter. Over the years, miniature-golf courses have taken countless forms, some with your basic bumps, curves, and bridges, others with fancier frills like waterfalls, clown heads, and exotic flora.

Whispering Pines has gone by many names over the last 81 years and has changed hands several times, but the Papas brothers wanted to make sure that the simple but elegant little course would be preserved well into the future. "We bought it just to keep it going another 80 years," says Greg Papas as he surveys the sun-bathed, throwback course.

Whispering Pines opened for the 2011 season on April 30, and longtime customers were already lined up to play the course once again. Greg Taylor, who grew up in Webster and has played Whispering Pines since he was a kid, putted 18 holes with his Compeer youth match, Trenton, on opening day.

Taylor says he's attracted to the Irondequoit landmark because its no-frills, understated layout provides an alternative to bigger, fancier courses in the area. "I just like the way it's set," Taylor says. "I like it better than the newer courses. This is more fun."

Unlike more modern, tricked-out courses, Whispering Pines is very laid-back, even cozy. Fitted into just a third of an acre, the course features quaint cobblestone, an aging but elegant miniature windmill and lighthouse, and an employment roster made up of members of the Papas family. Instead of outlandishly difficult holes, Whispering Pines offers the thrill of playing an historical landmark.

Whispering Pines is located at 4083 Culver Road, not far from Seabreeze Amusement Park, and is open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m. throughout the summer season. Admission is $5.50 for adults and $4.50 for kids and seniors. For more information, go to parksidediner.net or call 323-2710.

Whispering Pines is the most historic mini-golf course in the Rochester region, but numerous other putting paradises are located in every corner of the area, from Williamson in Wayne County to Lakeville in Livingston County, and all points in between. While Whispering Pines offers a traditional 18 holes, other complexes in the Rochester area provide miniature golf enthusiasts with more up-to-date, sophisticated putting options. Several of these more modern courses are part of larger, more diverse recreational facilities that also include attractions like go-karts, batting cages, and bounce houses.

For more miniature golf experiences, try these courses:

Adventure Landing (3340 West Ridge Road, Greece; 225-5093; adventurelanding.com): The Adventure Landing complex in Greece is one of 10 facilities in a national chain that stretches from Texas to Florida to New York. The Greece outpost features three 18-hole courses complete with verdant landscaping, mountains, and waterfalls. Tickets are $6.50 for a single game, $7.50 for two games, and $10 for three games. Adventure Landing also features a ropes course, batting cages, an arcade, bounce houses, and a full array of meal and snack items. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-midnight; Saturday from 9 a.m.-midnight.

Clubhouse Fun Center (70 Jay Scutti Blvd., Henrietta; 272-7888; clubhousefuncenter.com): For $7 for a single game or $9 for a double game (children 3 and under free), golfers can play one of two lushly landscaped courses that feature waterfalls and bridges. The center also includes go-karts, a full arcade, a stuffed-animal-building station, and Pizzeria Uno pizza. Hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight.

Sportworks (180 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Macedon; 315-986-4245, golfbigswing.com/Sportworks.htm): Located in cozy Macedon in Wayne County, Sportworks features two top-notch mini-golf courses with custom-built obstacles. The cost is $6 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Adults can play both 18-hole courses for $9, while youngsters can do so for $8. Open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m., weather permitting. Also at the Sportworks complex are a driving range and golf pro shop, five batting cages, a game room, and a full-compliment snack bar.

Auburn Creek (7331 Victor-Mendon Road, Victor; 924-7570, auburncreekgolf.com): Auburn Creek Driving Range & Mini Golf is located three miles south of Eastview Mall, and it prides itself on being a full-service golfing facility. The complex's 18-hole mini-golf course is relatively new, but it's already become a popular part of Auburn Creek's offerings. Game passes are $5 for adults and $4 for kids 8 and under. Family season passes are also available. Auburn Creek also has a driving range, putting green, and chipping green with sand bunker. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Wickham Farms (1821 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, Penfield; 377-3276; wickhamfarms.com): This pastoral gem of a facility offers mini-golf practitioners a different experience from other courses in the area. The foundation of the business is a pumpkin farm that dates back 25 years. Wickham eventually added a corn maze, a u-pick cutting garden, chickens, batting cages, a kiddie train, tractor rides, a huge barn/eatery, and, of course, an 18-hole miniature golf course. Games are $5 each, and the course is open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk.

Minnehan's (5601 Big Tree Road, Lakeville; 346-6167; minnehansgokart.com): Located at the corner of Route 20A and West Lake Road in the Livingston County hamlet of Lakeville, Minnehan's offers an 18-hole mini-golf course that's only $3.50 per game for kids and $4.50 for adults. The family-friendly business also features go-karts, batting cages, an arcade, a bounce castle, and a driving range. The minigolf course is open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Driving Range (4794 Route 104, Williamson; 315-589-4015; eagleridgedrivingrange.com): Eagle Ridge started out in the 1990's as a full-service driving range, but the facility later added an 18-hole miniature golf course to its slate of attractions. Single games are $5 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and under, but a second game on the same day is half price. Weather permitting, Eagle Ridge is open daily from noon to dusk, and a go-kart course is also on-site.

Whatever your miniature golf fancy - from the traditional to the modern, the simple to the adventuresome, the family-owned to the corporate - the Rochester area has plenty of options. Just line up your putt and roll it down the green.

Did we miss your favorite local miniature-golf course? Want to share your favorite mini-golf stories? Post them to this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.