You don’t need to be a golfing professional to shoot your way across the putting green. An afternoon or summer night of playtime at the miniature golf course is fun for all ages. The Northeast has a variety of exciting courses with different themes and activities.
Mulligan’s Island
Cranston, R.I.
Be prepared for some fiery fun at this award-winning family entertainment center. Sporting an island theme, Mulligan’s Island is home to two 18-hole miniature golf courses that wind around a massive fire-spouting volcano. The courses feature views of a winding stream, waterfall, treehouse, shipwreck, tiki statues and plenty of tropical foliage.
After a round of mini golf, take a swing at the batting cages and enjoy cold drinks and tasty frozen treats. Also housing a pitch and putt, driving range and Spargo Golf store for custom clubs, Mulligan’s Island’s has something for golfers of every skill level. If you’re looking for your next tropical adventure, look no further than this recreational oasis.
Kimball Farm
Westford, Mass.
Making a name for itself as a dairy barn in 1908 and an ice cream parlor in 1939, Kimball Farm is known in Massachusetts for its wide array of outdoor family activities. Cascading waterfalls and natural greenery frame two 18-hole miniature golf courses tailored to adventurers of all ages, exploring the Forbidden Mine or tackling the Waterfall Run.
Afterwards, practice your backswing at the driving range and pitch and putt. Cool off with a bumper boat float along Bumper Boat Pond or take the Spin Zone bumper cars for a ride. For a break from all the excitement, take a stroll through the country store, try some delicious surf and turf or sip a coffee drink in the cafe. A trip to Kimball Farm isn’t complete without tasting one of the more than 50 delicious homemade ice cream flavors.
Matterhorn Mini Golf
Canton, Conn.
Whisk yourself away to Switzerland with a visit to this themed mini golf course. Your 18-hole tour of the country is not only fun, but educational. Learn about cheese, Swiss chocolate, the Matterhorn and more as the sounds of distant yodeling accompany your journey. The local family of brightly decorated fiberglass goats observe your golfing skills. Watching your golf ball roll down snowy hills, past national landmarks and across the vibrant putting green is fun for the whole family. Cool off with Swiss swirl ice cream as an end to your traveling adventure. Matterhorn Mini Golf also hosts regular mini golf tournaments and golfing leagues.
Essex County Safari Mini Golf
West Orange, N.J.
Lions, gorillas and elephants – oh my! Pack your binoculars and get ready for a safari adventure. The 19-hole course’s wild theme makes it one of the best mini golf courses in New Jersey. Play your way through a tour of Africa, encountering smiling crocodiles in the river, camels trotting through the desert landscape, a hippo popping his head out of the putting green and other model animals. Safari sounds set the mood for your animal adventure.
If you’re looking to continue your wild animal safari, the Turtle Back Zoo is conveniently located nearby, where you can view some real-life animals in action, zip around the Tree Top Adventure Course, tour the South Mountain Reservation aboard the zoo train and more.
Shipwrecked Miniature Golf
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Your best mateys won’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind mini golf course. Shipwrecked Miniature Golf’s 18 holes are accompanied by coin-operated animatronics, video, lighting, sound and special effects. As you putt your way around the course, you’ll encounter clues to help you solve the mystery of a pirate captain marooned on an island and a missing treasure.
The pirate adventures continue after the 18th hole with the facility’s three escape rooms with haunted house, abandoned spacecraft and temple escape themes that can be solved as separate mini escapes or one epic adventure. Test your luck in the arcade with classic games from the 1980s, claw machines and a photo booth. Afterwards, wind down at the Tiki Terrace with a cold drink and a board game.
Love golf of the larger variety? Check out the top courses in the Northeast.
What’s your favorite miniature golf course in the area? Tell us in the comments.