Do you have fond childhood memories of playing mini golf, maybe on a first date, with friends or somewhere on vacation? Well, if you’re looking to get your mini golf fix in Scottsdale, you can find it at a variety of new establishments and long-time favorites.
Puttshack Scottsdale
Looking for an exciting and colorful indoor putting experience? Head over to Puttshack at Scottsdale Quarter. This two-story facility tees up four nine-hole layouts with holes based on games like air hockey, Tetris, Skee-Ball and even a skateboarding half-pipe! Riskier options on each hole allow you to accumulate more points, and you don’t have to keep score – each ball has a computer chip to take care of that, with scores shown on TV leaderboards around each course. The vibe changes a bit at night when it’s 21 and older after 8 p.m., and there’s a food menu where the choices might just surprise you. One tip: make sure to book your tee time in advance.
PopStroke
The newest kid on Scottsdale’s mini golf block, PopStroke boasts two 18-hole, synthetic turf putting courses that provide a thrilling golf experience for guests of all ages and skill levels. Each course incorporates fairways, bunkers and rough, just like you’d find on a traditional course, but you only need a putter to navigate the track. The concept, created in partnership with Tiger Woods and TaylorMade, comes complete with on-course mobile app drink delivery, an ice cream parlor, a playground and a full-service restaurant.
Putting World
Geared toward serious golfers looking to hone their putting skills, Putting World’s 18-hole course contains no windmills or clown mouths to hit past or into – just smoothly rolling artificial turf. The course changes each day by shifting the location of each hole’s tee, which is indicated by a red dot beaming down on the turf from lasers located in the ceiling. Need a putter? There is a high-tech lab with experienced instructors where you can go through a detailed fitting session to match your swing with the right putter (members can even keep their new, or old, putters in a locker on-site). And if you’re hungry after all those putts, Bar 19 overlooks the course and features an unexpectedly upscale menu, with items like Spicy Yellowfin Tuna & Crispy Rice, Albacore Tuna Melt on Griddled Noble English Muffin, and Shrimp and Pappardelle Pasta, plus craft cocktails.
Topgolf Scottsdale
Now if you feel your time at Putting World, PopStroke and Puttshack has sharpened your skills enough, it might be time to focus on your wedges, irons and driver, but not by going through buckets of balls on a driving range. Instead, do it with family or friends at Topgolf Scottsdale, located just west of Talking Stick Resort. The only rules there are to have as much fun as possible, including outscoring others in your group in some friendly games by deftly landing shots in multi-colored targets out on the “course” out in front of you. Dozens of climate-controlled hitting bays are housed throughout the four-story structure, and scores are kept for you automatically (and displayed on TV monitors in your bay) thanks to a chip in each ball. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, Topgolf Scottsdale comes with a full bar and restaurant, and even instructors who can help you improve your swing.
Tom Mackin, a former Senior Editor at Golf Magazine, writes for local, regional and national golf publications across the U.S. The New Jersey native met his wife in Scottsdale and the two have lived here since 2013. See more on Instagram: @temackin
