Local

August 07, 2026

New Mini Golf Course Opens in Douro-Dummer With a Kawarthas Twist

August 07, 2026/ Scott Arnold

By Scott Arnold

The Little Mini Golf Co. officially opened Thursday in Douro-Dummer, bringing a one-of-a-kind 18-hole course inspired by the places, history and landmarks that make the Peterborough and Kawarthas region unique.

The Little Mini Golf Co. officially opened Thursday in Douro-Dummer, bringing a one-of-a-kind 18-hole course inspired by the places, history and landmarks that make the Peterborough and Kawarthas region unique. — The Little Mini Golf Co. officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 6th at 17 Indacom Drive in Douro-Dummer (photo by Scott Arnold)

Mini golf has always been about friendly competition, creative obstacles and maybe a lucky bounce or two.

The Little Mini Golf Co. takes that familiar idea and gives it a distinctly Kawartha twist.

The new 18-hole course officially celebrated its grand opening Thursday at 17 Indacom Drive in Douro-Dummer, adding a new family attraction alongside The Little Frozen Yogurt Company. But while the course offers all the fun people expect from mini golf, it's the details that set it apart.

From the dynamite wagon to themed holes inspired by local waterways, every detail of The Little Mini Golf Co. was designed with the Kawarthas in mind. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Instead of pirates, castles or dinosaurs, visitors will find themselves putting through local history and landmarks.

There's a replica of the Peterborough Lift Lock, complete with a putt through the Hunter Street Tunnel. Rice Lake, Stony and Clear Lake, and Buckhorn Lake are all represented in the shapes of different holes. A wagon loaded with "dynamite" pays tribute to the historic Douro explosion of 1885, while another hole features a flowing stream that can carry your golf ball toward the cup if you know the trick.

The Little Mini Golf Co. officially opened its new 18-hole course in Douro-Dummer, featuring holes inspired by local landmarks, history and the natural beauty of the Kawarthas. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

"It's a secret," owner Sean Harris laughed during a tour of the course. "Put the ball in the river and the river will carry the ball and spit it out back right towards the hole, possibly for a hole in one."

That mix of creativity and local pride is exactly what Harris and his wife, A.J. Sainsbury, hoped to build.

The project has been years in the making.

The story starts with Harris and business partner David Conroy running their construction company out of a garage. After learning they needed a different location, they discovered the property in Douro-Dummer was available, purchased it and built their shop.

Not long after, Harris and Sainsbury saw another opportunity.

Watching the steady stream of customers visiting what used to be the Butter Tart Factory, they realized the property had the potential to become more than just a construction shop. Rather than opening another traditional ice cream stand, Sainsbury remembered visiting frozen yogurt shops as a kid and thought the idea would stand out.

The Little Frozen Yogurt Company helped lay the foundation for the new destination, offering visitors a chance to enjoy frozen treats before or after a round of mini golf. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

The Little Frozen Yogurt Company opened several years ago before eventually adding Kawartha Dairy ice cream to the menu.

As families continued visiting for frozen treats, lawn games and outdoor space, another idea started to take shape.

"We had all this land that we weren't using and we wanted to do more," Harris said. "We wanted to make this a destination."

Guests get their first look at The Little Mini Golf Co., where holes inspired by area lakes, history and landmarks create a one-of-a-kind experience. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Mini golf quickly rose to the top of the list.

When Milltown Mini Golf closed, Harris said they realized just how much the community valued having a place where families, friends and visitors of all ages could spend time together.

Rather than simply replacing what had been lost, they wanted to create something completely different.

To help bring that vision to life, the couple travelled to Myrtle Beach, often considered the mini golf capital of North America, visiting courses, taking photos and making notes about the features they liked most.

Then they came home and started building.

"We played lots of courses trying to find what are the things we really liked and what doesn't work," Harris said. "We took pictures of our favourite holes along the way and kind of put it all together here."

The result is a course that rewards repeat visits.

Some holes can be played more than one way, encouraging golfers to try different shots each time they visit. Others hide little surprises that players might not discover until their second or third round.

"Sean doesn't like to do things the easy way," Sainsbury said with a smile. "It just makes it the kind of place that you want to come back and play again, as opposed to a cookie-cutter mini golf course."

The Little Mini Golf Co. blends creativity and community pride, with golfers putting their way through landmarks, lakes and hidden surprises throughout the course. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

That philosophy extends beyond the golf itself.

Harris admits the course probably won't ever be truly finished.

There are plans to add boats to the Lift Lock display, complete more decorative features, finish landscaping and continue adding little touches throughout the property.

"The problem is I'm a dreamer," Harris said. "It doesn't stop."

That same vision was evident throughout Thursday's grand opening, where community leaders from all levels of government joined family, friends and supporters to celebrate the opening. Speakers praised the project as another attraction that will help draw both residents and visitors to Peterborough County while supporting local tourism and small business.

For Harris, though, the goal has always been much simpler.

As parents of three young children, he and Sainsbury wanted to create a place where families could spend time together, whether they're introducing a child to mini golf for the first time, challenging grandparents to a friendly round or grabbing a frozen yogurt after a game.

"It's a fun thing for all," Harris said.

Designed as a place where families, friends, couples and visitors of all ages can come together, The Little Mini Golf Co. offers a new way to spend time outdoors in the Kawarthas. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Thursday's grand opening marked the end of months of planning and construction, but not the end of the project. Harris already has a list of ideas he wants to add, from more features around the Lift Lock to finishing touches throughout the course. If his track record is any indication, The Little Mini Golf Co. will keep growing right alongside the community it was built to celebrate.

After all, dream projects have a way of continuing to grow.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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