There‘s a variety of cool gear within the golf world that doesn’t at all times match into Most Needed Exams or Purchaser’s Guides. You continue to need to know the way it performs. In our We Tried It collection, we put gear to the take a look at and allow you to know if it really works as marketed.
What We Tried
Taking part in rounds of miniature golf at PopStroke and Puttshack, two fashionable takes on a basic household exercise.
Your Reviewer
Sean Fairholm, mini golf scorekeeper and self-appointed head of the competitors integrity committee.
We Tried It: PopStroke
I’ll begin my evaluate with PopStroke, the Tiger Woods-owned mini golf that opened its doorways in 2019.
As of this writing, PopStroke has 17 areas throughout six states (Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Nevada, South Carolina). Eight are in Florida.
The PopStroke idea is much like Topgolf in that it’s an off-the-cuff place for mini golf that additionally presents a sturdy food and drinks operation.
One other differentiator between PopStroke and your commonplace mini golf is that PopStroke appears to be like like a small model of a actual golf course. The synthetic turf, which incorporates white areas for the “bunkers” (no sand is concerned, don’t fear), is top quality and vibrant by comparability to most mini golf programs. There aren’t any windmills or clown mouths right here. In truth, there may be not a single impediment aside from the slope of the turf.
Every PopStroke location has two 18-hole programs with one format being tougher than the opposite. The traditional really feel of a PopStroke is an out of doors patio/bar space—full with video games like cornhole and pingpong—looking to the mini golf programs, which aren’t below cowl.
My spherical happened final month on the Orlando location. It’s about 20 minutes due east of downtown within the Union Park space, surrounded by your regular suburban sprawl like Pink Lobster and Kohl’s. I’m certain there’s a Bar Louie inside strolling distance.
Setting the scene
The very first thing you discover strolling into PopStroke is … an ice cream store? Sure, there may be the choice to get ice cream as a handful of flavors try to lure you over to strive them.
The second factor I observed was the worth level. After I first noticed $25 per grownup, I believed it was slightly steep. That is simply mini golf. You’ll be able to play for $12 at my native course. After which I observed that it was $25 with limitless play—and I used to be there on a Sunday afternoon as NFL video games had been in full pressure.
That’s a fairly truthful deal, particularly contemplating that each individual will get an precise golf ball. You understand how you go play mini golf they usually offer you a plastic ball that may most likely explode at influence if somebody hit it with a driver? No such fear right here. You get a reputable TaylorMade Distance+ golf ball with the PopStroke brand.
It’s not successful our testing however attending to play mini golf with an actual golf ball? That could be a massive step up. And also you get to maintain it!
The putters are commonplace fare for mini golf. Nothing you’ll need to be caught utilizing on an precise golf course however they do the trick for a day.
A fast phrase on the meals operation earlier than I get into the mini golf. There aren’t any waiters at PopStroke—or no less than there have been none at this location. You get to an empty desk, scan a QR code after which order in your cellphone. They know the place your desk is so that you simply await the meals. You pay for it electronically—no signing receipts or something. You barely speak to any server. I perceive why they do this but it surely does really feel slightly impersonal. Our meals took a very long time after which we needed to hunt somebody right down to ask the place it was as a result of there was no waiter.
The meals was advantageous. Unmemorable however nothing worse.
It’s not a spot you’ll hunt down for the meals/drink. You’re there to play mini golf and possibly relax on the patio.
I did admire that there have been 1,000,000 TVs with each NFL recreation being performed. And the pingpong desk is a good characteristic.
It was steadily busy all through the time we had been there however nothing near being packed.
Taking part in the course
We had been a big group so we requested for the simpler of the 2 programs to maintain play shifting alongside.
The very first thing you discover is how easy the turf is all through the course. The greens are quick and roll true for essentially the most half. It does really feel much more like you might be on a grown-up placing course—much like a spot like Streamsong or Erin Hills—reasonably than a mini golf course.
On the identical time, PopStroke’s programs provide a variety of buffers to gamers of all ages. Behind most holes is a slope that forestalls your ball from going into the mulch. Many occasions, it’ll carry your ball nearer to the opening. Our group had a handful of holes-in-one for this precise cause.
As soon as once more, there aren’t any obstacles or gimmicks. It’s only a straight-up placing course on synthetic turf. There aren’t any bricks forming a boundary across the gap however many of the slopes are there that can assist you.
In case you are strolling round with a drink, purse or one thing else, there are stands at every tee field in your comfort. For that cause, I like to recommend a couple of folks in a bunch taking part in directly—if every participant finishes out earlier than the subsequent participant hits, then you must shuttle selecting up your drink or no matter else you’ve with you.
The second course was fairly a bit tougher than the primary one. In case you get on the improper facet of a slope, you might simply take 4 or 5 putts.
General, I might say PopStroke does a pleasant job of interesting to actual golfers whereas nonetheless being enjoyable for non-golfers. We noticed a diversified group of individuals—everybody from younger children to aged {couples}. You would spend a strong three or 4 hours there.
We Tried It: Puttshack
There’s one other instance of recent mini golf that’s practically the precise reverse of PopStroke.
Puttshack has 21 areas which might be both open or are about to open all through the U.S. It’s unfold out throughout the nation together with one in my hometown of Nashville, Tenn. Our location opened final 12 months within the Gulch, a classy space south of downtown.
Whereas PopStroke has centered on outside, warm-weather areas, Puttshack has an enormous presence in northern cities in addition to southern cities. Their mini golf idea is solely indoors.
Puttshack is tech-infused mini golf that focuses on gimmicks and video games. It’s definitely not like something I had seen.
There’s a chip in every golf ball that data every stroke. It’s sort of just like the bowling equal for mini golf as a result of scores are up to date robotically and proven on screens all through your spherical (extra on this expertise in a second).
Setting the scene
Man, Puttshack is busy. My spouse and I’ve been a few occasions now and it’s at all times packed.
Whenever you stroll by way of the entrance doorways, you might be instantly within the bar/restaurant space. You examine in at a kiosk—reservations are extremely beneficial if you’re occurring a weekend—and get informed which of the three programs your social gathering will likely be taking part in. It might be good to have the ability to choose your course as a result of you possibly can simply find yourself on the identical design every time you come again.
There’s a massive board that exhibits which events are taking part in which course. As soon as your tee time is prepared, you head to no matter course you had been assigned. Somebody walks you thru slightly tutorial after which you might be able to go.
Whereas the expertise is tremendous cool, the golf ball and putter are merely satisfactory. PopStroke has Puttshack beat on that entrance.
It price about $15 per grownup to play 9 holes. There’s a Monday-Thursday choice to play one other 9 holes for 50 p.c off so that may be 18 holes at round $22.
I used to be fortunately stunned by the quantity of the music. It wasn’t too loud which is sweet. You’re already being stimulated by a variety of lights and screens so having restricted noise is appreciated.
The bar/restaurant space is a extra conventional sports activities bar vibe with regular servers. I believed the meals was advantageous. Do any of those different golf locations have nice meals? Most likely not. You aren’t right here for the meals.
Taking part in the course
There are three nine-hole programs and each gap is remarkably totally different with its personal theme. For example, there is perhaps an air hockey theme the place the course appears to be like like an enormous air hockey desk. As soon as you set the ball down, objects forward of you begin to transfer—you must gauge when to hit the ball by way of them.
You begin your spherical in a sure order primarily based on the display above you. There’s a display at each gap displaying what number of factors you’ve. On this recreation, the most factors win.
Every participant finishes out individually. The ball is aware of what number of pictures you took.
On sure holes, there are bonuses. For instance, you is perhaps requested a real or false query whereas dealing with two openings forward of you. The place you resolve to putt the ball is the way you reply the query. Getting it proper tacks factors on to your rating.
I performed one gap that was beer pong-themed. You hit up a ramp into one of many holes and get a sure variety of factors for stepping into one of many cups. Then your ball comes out a chute and also you end out to get your last rating.
In contrast to PopStroke, you don’t get to maintain the ball. The ultimate gap is often an enormous ramp the place you ship your ball into an enormous ski ball sort of board, giving your self one final shot at factors. After which the final display shows the identify of the winner in your group.
The spherical solely takes about 25 minutes provided that there are simply 9 holes and it’s not significantly difficult. It’s value taking part in two programs relying in your funds.
One of many holes we performed had malfunctioning expertise. After studying the evaluations of our location, it seems like this occurs sometimes. That’s sure to occur for an modern idea like this one.
The clientele is households and a lot of children.
General, I believe Puttshack is a very enjoyable idea that may be put in wherever across the nation no matter climate. It’s stimulating for youths and retains everybody’s consideration all through.
Concluding ideas
I don’t assume one wins over the opposite as a result of it’s all about what you need out of your expertise.
Would you like extra of a pure scorecard-in-hand expertise that simulates being on an actual golf course? In case you intend to play 36 holes or extra, PopStroke looks as if a great deal at $25 for the day.
Do you need to expertise the golf model of bowling the place you might be entertained by the expertise and anybody can win the sport no matter ability? Puttshack is the place for you.
Personally, I’ve extra curiosity in PopStroke. What can I say, I’m a mini golf purist. PopStroke is extra repeatable in that you just wish to return a number of occasions to enhance your rating. It may be difficult, which is stimulating.
The enjoyable of Puttshack is within the novelty of the expertise. Much like Topgolf, I went a few occasions, acquired the thought and didn’t really feel a powerful want to move again.
If I had a PopStroke in my city, I might be there each different month or so. It’s dynamic in that you might actually go on the market by yourself and play—or you might exit with a big group of individuals.
Puttshack is excellent for a 10-year-old’s birthday celebration. And it’s superior for a fast date night time exercise earlier than or after dinner. However for the period of time you spend (not a lot) and the cash (sort of loads relative to the time), I’m unsure it’s an awesome worth as a repeat exercise.
Have you ever been to both of those mini golf experiences? Was it value it?
Let me know under within the feedback.
The put up We Tried It: PopStroke Versus Puttshack Mini Golf appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
