As reported Nov. 29, 1987, in The Howard Sun:
A local developer has decided to throw in the towel on the only miniature-golf course in Columbia after an arson fire there caused more than $150,000 damage.
Developer Garnett Bean, owner of the 36-hole Fun Putt Miniature Golf Course in the Village of Oakland Mills, closed the course after the fire last month, and now plans to raze it to make way for business development.
Current plans for the one-acre site call for a convenience store and bank to be built there.
Chuck Meldrum, covenant adviser for the village, said during recent conversations with Mr. Bean that he had decided to develop the site as originally planned because fire had destroyed the concession stand and the course's manager, Roderick B. Hinmon, had pulled out to develop another course outside of Columbia. Mr. Bean could not be reached for comment.