As adult fans of theme parks and the entertainment industry, we often look for ways to relieve the theme park “itch.” We realize that not everyone has the time or lives in the geographic area where they can just “spend a few minutes” at their park or local family entertainment center, and sometimes you need to a fast, entertaining and immersive option. to have fun. Maybe a little competition, definitely an adult beverage or two. Enter The putterywhich take the classic concept of miniature golf and give it a modern touch for those 21 and over.
Currently boasting two operating locations (Dallas, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina, both opening in 2021) with eight more on the way very soon (DC, Miami, Chicago, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Houston ), The Puttery describes itself as offering an “immersive experience like no other”. From competitive meets to curated culinary options to inventive craft cocktails, one thing’s for sure: you can always count on an epic night. Yes, you read that right. This is not your typical “putt through the windmill” type putt-putt course. Each unique class is designed to be a visceral, painstakingly detailed experience that transports guests to a completely unexpected place.
Puttery’s parent company is Drive Shack, Inc. – known for its gamified “Driving Range” concept. While a trip to the Drive Shack might take a few hours or even an entire afternoon or evening, the Puttery takes away much of the fun that customers can expect at the Drive Shack – golf, food, drink, competition and fun atmosphere, and squeezes it into a tighter compact time window.
On a recent visit to Charlotte, I was eager to see if the marketing copy on The Puttery’s website would be true. How can you improve miniature golf and make it an immersive experience? I was wondering. I grew up about two hours later Myrtle Beach, South Carolina., known for its very thematic miniature golf on every corner. Could it be so different? The answer is simply yes, absolutely.
Our group of nine made a reservation for the afternoon and arrived near the start of our arrival window. When you make a reservation at Puttery, you are actually selecting a 90-minute time window and your group cannot depart until later in that period. Luckily for us, they divided us into three groups with consecutive departure times, and off we went.
Playing Charotte Puttery’s “Library” course (the Charlotte location has two 9-hole courses, Library and “The Conservatory), the first thing you notice is the attention to detail. Approaching this from a theme park perspective, the theming was comparable, if not better, to a number of regional theme parks in the United States. Not only are there shelves and shelves of books, but the course’s obstacles are also environmentally themed. Immersive was a great way to describe it. The next thing you’ll notice is the solid bar, conveniently located between the first and second holes.
In addition to a drinks shelf, each “tee zone” has a digital touchscreen that serves as your scorecard on each hole and guides you throughout the round. No little pencils or paper score cards that you have to keep putting in and out of your pocket. The technology is actually quite impressive, and when your group completes their hole, your scorecard appears on the next screen while the next group’s scorecard fills the current screen. These screens link to wall displays throughout the space, which feature the day’s standings and also catalog all holes-in-one. (These wall displays are updated once your turn is complete, so unfortunately there is no counting of “aces” during the turn.)
The Library course’s nine holes had varying levels of difficulty, and while they had some classic miniature golf elements (hitting into a whole, the ball coming out of another hole elsewhere, etc.), the course was truly the one of the most unique mini golf courses. the golf courses I had already played. Don’t let its deceptively small footprint fool you, as several golfers in our group (myself included) found a way to “max out” their score on multiple holes. (The maximum number of shots on any hole is six, presumably designed to keep traffic flowing on the course.) The “greens” roll a little slowly. You were warned!
While I was tied going into the ninth hole, I exploded on the final hole and finished my round two over par. In total, it took our group of nine about 45 minutes from start to finish. Although we didn’t get a chance to play both courses. (Keep in mind that the price you pay is for a 9-hole course, not a traditional 18-hole course) The Conservatory course at Puttery Charlotte looked like fun, and I will definitely be returning next time. next time !
Aside from miniature golf, The Puttery also had a huge bar, offering a chef-prepared menu with dishes like sous vide pork belly, tuna tostadas, and a number of pizza options. For those with a sweet tooth, the Puttery offers mini desserts in Mason jars. Each location is unique. While the Charlotte location features 15,000 square feet of space and dual-themed courses, the Dallas location features nearly 21,000 square feet of space, three bars and four single-themed golf courses. For more information on upcoming Puttery locations, we recommend checking out the Puttery website.
For adults looking for that experience we mentioned at the top of this article, one that combines the elements of a theme park, with immersion, fun, theming and maybe a little competition , we recommend visiting a Puttery near you (again open, of course – but if you’re in Charlotte or Dallas, absolutely!) A quick note, for a theme park experience, you will pay a little theme park price, for each 9-hole round. costs $18. But if you’re looking for a fun night out or group activity, stay at the Puttery before or after your game, order a craft cocktail and a quick snack, and make a night of it. You’ll be glad you did.
As a reminder, All Puttery guests must be 21 years of age or older.
For more information about The Puttery, check out their websiteand follow them on social networks: Facebook | Instagram | Tic Tac
