9 of the coolest mini-golf courses in and around Pittsburgh
Photo courtesy of Sunset Miniature Golf.
This article first appeared in NEXTpittsburgh, a media partner that focuses on the people advancing the Pittsburgh region.
For golfers, the picturesque Oakmont Country Club is among the holiest of holies (sorry). But for mini-golf fans, some of the best courses are found along decidedly un-picturesque Babcock Boulevard, tucked into a hillside in Carnegie and scooped out of a twisting road through South Park.
Pittsburgh is just that great a place for miniature golf. We have courses that are as creative and weird as any that you’ll find anywhere, and a bunch of others that are also pretty fun. Aside from tourist trap towns like Myrtle Beach, Pittsburgh may be one of the best places to play mini-golf in America.
These are courses that go beyond the usual windmills and ponds to deliver a truly original game, full of puzzling challenges and surprising quirks.
The best courses are tricky enough that some combination of skill, luck and concentration is required — and everybody has a chance to win. (I haven’t played real golf in decades, but always have a chance to beat the three extremely experienced golfers in my family at mini-golf).
Kniess, as the name indicates, is just really nice. This course — which features a pleasant creek on one side and a busy stretch of Babcock Boulevard on the other — opened in 1930 as Tom Thumb Miniature Golf, making it one of the oldest courses you’ll find anywhere. Instead of being primitive and simple, however, most holes in the two 18-hole courses come with a theme, which is often taken to extremes. In one, there are actual bumper cars as obstacles; in another, bowling balls. In the nautical-themed hole, there’s a giant fiberglass shark; in an aerial-themed hole, a World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane. For the pirate-themed hole, there’s an entire scene of pirate skeletons marooned with their hoard of gold doubloons.
Forsythe Miniature Golf & Snacks, Carnegie
If you want a mini-golf course that’s perfectly Pittsburgh, you can’t skip this spot in Carnegie. It’s carved into the side of a hill and takes full advantage of its challenging topography. There’s one hole that goes “off the grid” entirely, where you just have to hit the ball down a rough hillside and hope it hits the green. Most courses have the “hole of doom” which wrecks your score. Forsythe has more of those than regular holes. However, you can salve your wounded ego with sweets — candy and ice cream sandwiches — from the shop out front. At night, it’s illuminated by strings of tiny lights threaded through the trees.
Sunset Miniature Golf, South Park
This one is a pain to get to from the city, but that’s the only drawback. Sunset is filled with quirky mischief. One hole has you putting through Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry’s pads (once, it was Marc-Andre Fleury, sigh). Several others have secret squirt guns that blast you with water while you’re trying to putt. There’s a giant pirate ship that you climb aboard for a few holes and a Wild West-themed hole that propels your ball through a maze of mineshafts with rushing water. The challenge level here ranges from easy to “just be lucky.”
Glen’s Custard and Mini Golf, Springdale
This is a nice little, inexpensive course that happens to have two remarkable features. One is that it’s attached to Glen’s Frozen Custard, which is a must-visit place for anyone embarking upon a summer ice cream tour of western Pennsylvania. (Seriously, try the Banana Custard and the Limoncello ice cream Cookie Sandwiches). It’s also literally in the shadow of the staggeringly massive Cheswick Power Plant, long one of the region’s top polluters, which is scheduled to close in September. It’s a startling juxtaposition between the tiny mini-golf course and the massive reminder of Pittsburgh’s industrial past.
The course is easy and quick, with two sections separated by a hill and a parking lot. On a recent visit, the main water feature seemed to be broken — the bubbling brook was dry, and the pond was murky and nasty (so avoid hitting your ball in it at all costs). Don’t forget to pick up a few pints of custard (try Georgia Peach) to go.
Willowbrook Mini Golf & Driving Range, Greensburg
If you’re out east, this is a fairly simple, classic mini-golf course with few surprises, but enough to make it interesting. There are some ramps to jump over ponds, a lighthouse hole and a rocket ship hole. This course plays fast and doesn’t seem to attract large crowds, so take your time. Not a lot of shade, which is a problem as the summer heats up.
Another spot that has a lot more going on than just mini-golf, including batting cages, Par 3 course, a golf shop and golf lessons. They even offer a night game with glow-in-the-dark balls on the “pitch & putt” course. The mini-golf course is classic and simple, with lots of giant fiberglass statues — a grizzly bear, Pinocchio, a gigantic rooster and well-kept water features, including a waterfall.
Monroeville Par 2, Monroeville
An effective strategy for a warm-weather game like mini-golf seems to be packaging it with an arcade, go-karts, bumper cars and batting cages. This course has a wild animal theme, with giant fiberglass elephants and giraffes on faux rock outcroppings. The holes themselves are fairly standard — lighthouses, caves, etc. A good, not-too-frustrating course for kids and beginners.
They’ve revamped their mini-golf course, which has been a popular destination for decades. I haven’t played it yet, but it looks pretty great, with large water features and lots of varied, rocky terrain. And it comes highly recommended. It’s part of a sports complex that includes everything from a driving range and indoor golf simulators to a giant indoor soccer field.
North Park Batting Range, Miniature Golf, Driving Range and Par 3, North Hills
Just like it says in the title, there’s a lot going on here. The batting cages are actually the main draw here, right across the road. The mini-golf course isn’t an afterthought, but it’s not terribly original either. (Hey, there’s Humpty Dumpty, sitting on a wall!) Still, if you want to do a few fun things at once, this is a good option. If you bring your clubs, you can even try The Par 3 at North Park, an easy 9-hole real golf course that’s great for beginners and putting practice.
