by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
I admit, I’ve never been a big fan of golf. Living on the First Coast, so close to some of the countries most famous courses, I’ve sincerely made an effort to get into the game but nothing has really stuck. The closest I can get to a love of the game is a love of its bastard step-child, mini-golf. I’ve been to many a “putt-putt” in my day and, now that I have kids, I’ll surely get to play many more holes before my days are through. Luckily there are a number of fun miniature golf locations in and around the Jacksonville area to keep us busy.
The hottest mini golf spot in Jacksonville is Adventure Landing. Both locations have two themed 18-hole courses designed for all ages and skill levels. While there are no windmills or clown mouths to putt into, there are lush landscapes to maneuver through and little waterfall “hazards” to avoid. Thanks to daily specials like their “All Day You Can Play” Mondays and Thursdays, playing a few rounds of mini golf is extremely affordable for families on a budget. Adventure Landing is located in Jacksonville Beach at 1944 Beach Blvd and at 4825 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville. For more information visit their website at www.AdventureLanding.com.
The only other miniature golf course within Jacksonville city limits is Mandarin Mill Family Golf located at 10910 San Jose Blvd, just south of I-295. This Mandarin landmark features two courses that golfers can navigate via wooden bridges that wind up and down the hilly landscape. The Mill is known as “Jacksonville’s Country Club of Miniature Golf,” and while I personally wouldn’t go that far, it’s still a fun place to spend an afternoon. For pricing and hours of operation call (904) 262-7888.
There are several terrific miniature golf places just a short drive away. If you want a wet and wild mini golf experience, you’ll need to head to Fernandina Beach, where Island Falls Adventure Golf beckons. Rock mountains, rushing streams and a 20-foot waterfall take this 18-hole course to the next level. Island Falls is located at 1550 Sadler Road and their phone number is (904) 261-7881. Also in Fernandina Beach is the Putt-Putt Fun Center at 6 North Fletcher. Heading south, St. Augustine is home to the Family Fun Factory, located at 2780 State Road 16, which features a large fort-themed 18-hole course. More thrills await at Anastasia Miniature Golf Park, a pirate-themed course complete with waterfalls, caves and a shipwrecked vessel. The course is located at 701 Anastasia Blvd. directly across from the Lighthouse and near the Alligator Farm.
Being an avid mini-golfer for as long as I can remember, I decided it was time to introduce my own little ones to the “sport”. While I knew that my son, who just turned three, would probably get bored right away, I figured my daughter, who turns five this month, would be more receptive to the game. Still, long before we set foot out of the house, I prepared myself for the worst and vowed that once they got antsy we would call it a day. My preparation, it turned out, wasn’t a complete waste of time or energy. After grabbing some lunch, we headed over to Adventure Landing on Blanding Boulevard for 18-holes of fun. I gave the kids a quick lesson in putt-putt and off they went. Of course, neither of my little guys cared much about the rules and were much more interested in whacking the ball than trying to get it in the hole. Still, we all stuck it out, even my little boy, who resisted the urge to pick up the ball and throw it at least twice before doing just that at around hole five. That in itself is an accomplishment. We never actually made it all the way through the course, but the eight holes we did (sort of) complete (with a lot of cheating, of course) were a lot of fun. The key, I discovered, was to shut off the anal “mom” part of my brain and just be a kid for a little while. As a result, I laughed as much as the kids did and we all want to go back someday soon.
While mini golf may seem like an outdated way to have fun to some, it’s actually a pretty great way to spend an afternoon with your family. And, with plenty of great locations nearby, chances are you‘ll have completely different experience every time.
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