I love miniature golf! I am always on the lookout for a course no matter where I am whether I am flying back east to visit family, or just looking for something local to do. We have quite a few courses here in the Valley of the Sun. Here are my favorites in order of my preference. I hope you try them out and have a great time with the family and/or friends.
1. Crackerjax in Scottsdale, Arizona. This fun park not only has miniature golf, but an arcade, batting cage, a go cart track, bunjee zone, and a bumber boat lagoon. In addition to all the fun things to do there, they have a restaurant that caters! I like their miniature golf courses because they are very well cared for, and clean,. They actually have two “Best of Arizona” miniature golf courses. One course is called the Optical Delusion and it is somewhat of a challenge for the little ones as, just like in its title, it’s a bit hard to focus on that little ball with all of the optical illusions that make up this course. The other course is just a relaxing play among the natural, desert scenery with a waterfall or two added for good measure. This is the course I really enjoy most. Price of general admission is $20 for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday it is $15 and $25 on Friday – Sunday. This park is open every day from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The address to Crackerjax is 16001 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Their website is www.crackerjax.com. You can reach them at (480) 422-3297.
2. Castles and Coasters in Phoenix, Arizona. This park is also an amusement park with 4 world-class miniature golf courses, a huge arcade with restaurant, Indy car track, carousel, bumper boats, roller coasters, freefall ride and a log ride just to name a few attractions. This place holds a sentimental place in my heart as it is one of the first places I enjoyed when I first moved to the Phoenix area. When I moved here in the late 80’s, there was only the golf courses and an arcade. This place has grown to be one of the number one places to have a great time with the kids. Many local schools have field trips to this park. I would consider it a fun place to go on a date for teenagers as well. On the downside, it is a little pricey for large families, but I believe it is worth checking out! The entrance fee for non-riders after 5 p.m. is $5. On weekends, all day unlimited rides until 3 p.m. the price is $20.35. With 1 round of mini golf it is $24.75. Just for 18 holes of mini-golf the price is $7.63 plus tax. The best deal is 4 rides and 1 round of mini-golf for $20. This park is open every day but hours may vary. You will need to call 602-997-7575 for hours. The address to Castles and Coasters is 9445 Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, AZ 85051. Their website has the directions from several locations in the valley. Their site address is www.castlesncoasters.com.
3. Golfland/Sunsplash in Mesa, Arizona is also a fun place to hang out for the kids. This miniature golf course, like Castles and Coasters, has much more than miniature golf. It also has an arcade and restaurant. They also have laser tag, tube rentals, and a fastcar raceway (which my husband enjoys immensely!) They stop selling tickets to mini golf about 1 hour prior to closing. If you are looking for some summer fun in the east valley, this is definitely the place for it! But also, like Castles and Coasters, it is a bit pricey. Admission price at the gate is $25.90. Junior admission (under 48″ tall) is $19.90 and toddler admission (2 and under) is $2.78. One full day of unlimited Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Race Cars and more is $21.24. On Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.., prices are $11.10 per person and that includes Unlimited video games, mini-golf and laser tag. There is not entrance fee into this park, just package fees such as those listed and others as posted on their website, www.golfland.com. You can reach them by calling (480) 834-8318. Their address is 155 W Hampton Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210.
In Arizona, mixing water rides with mini-golf seems to make a lot of sense especially in the summer when the temperatures reach in the 100s. Remember when you head out to any of these parks, make sure you have water with you on the course and also wear sunscreen. I cannot reiterate that enough to you. If you live here, you know exactly what I am talking about! Have fun and stay safe everybody!
