The Los Angeles area is fertile ground for miniature golf courses. Most of the courses are part of large facilities that feature an array of entertainment activities, placing the mini golf offering as just one of several options for visitors. The courses typically feature layouts that highlight miniature golf's lighthearted side, though some attempts at mimicking the challenges of putting on standard golf greens are also made.
Sherman Oaks Castle Park
Sherman Oaks Castle Park features three 18-home miniature golf courses with elaborate landscapes, making for a series of memorable and challenging obstacles. The facility also includes an arcade and batting cages. The Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation operates the course, which is located in Sherman Oaks. The facility puts a particular emphasis on hosting parties, including birthday parties, with a number of packages and special facilities reserved for party-goers.
Mulligan Family Fun Center
There are Mulligan Family Fun Center locations in both Torrance and Palmdale in Los Angeles County. Miniature golf is only part of the offerings at Mulligan sites. In Torrance, there are an arcade, a rock wall, a speedway for go-karts, laser tag, paddle boats and a batting cage. The Palmdale location has blaster boats, an arcade, a rock wall and go-karts. There are two 18-hole courses in Torrance and three nine-hole courses in Palmdale. Each features large, whimsical obstacles and water and sand traps.
Golf N'Stuff
Golf N'Stuff in Norwalk has the most extensive offering of miniature golf in the Los Angeles area with four different 18-hole courses available for play. In addition, the large facility offers some activities typically found at an amusement park, such as a disk ride that operates on rolling tracks, bumper boats, bumper cars, a kids' train and go-karts. There also is an arcade. The golf courses' visual features include a haunted house, western landscapes, two castles, a lighthouse, a candy house, Big Ben and a tree house.
Putting Edge Fun Center
The Putting Edge Fun Center in Culver City features the unusual twist of glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. In this version of the activity, the golf balls that players use glow in the dark, bringing some added excitement to the rolling ball as it approaches the hole. In addition, a number of the features on the courses are lit up with wild, strong colors. There is also an arcade. Putting Edge is a franchise with locations in the United States and Canada. Every player receives a glow bracelet.
The Greens
The Greens, which consists of three nine-hole layouts in Valencia, was named the best miniature golf course in the city by Los Angeles Magazine. The facility, which was built for $3.5 million, attempts to replicate the golf experience, using features like sand traps and water hazards instead of the goofy elements that are often associated with miniature golf. The course also uses real grass instead of artificial turf. Some holes are as large as 100 yards long. Ted Robinson, an architect of a number of standard golf courses, designed The Greens.
Member Comments