Best Mini Golf Courses In San Francisco
Miniature golf is more than child's play, it's a political statement. Thank the ladies of Scotland for founding this entertaining version of a one-time, male-only Olympic sport. These days it's just a blast for the whole family, especially on these beautiful Bay Area greens.
Malibu Grand Prix
320 Blomquist St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 367-1906
www.malibugrandprix.com
Price: click here for pricing
Hours: Mon to Thurs – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri – 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat – 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun – 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Malibu Grand Prix is a name you can trust when it comes to family entertainment. Come here for your choice of three 18-hole courses featuring waterfalls, pirate ships and windmills, plus batting cages, a fully stocked arcade room, bumper boats, turbo go karts and a high-powered, grand-prix, Indy-style race track.
Ghost Golf
1913 Salvio St.
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 521-1913
www.ghostgolfconcord.com
Price: click here for pricing
Hours: Mon, Thurs – 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tues, Wed – closed; Fri – 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat – 11:30 to 10 p.m.; Sun – 11:30 to 8 p.m.
Get into a little quick, scary fun the whole family will enjoy in this creepy, haunted graveyard-style indoor course. Play through nine holes as skeletons and talking busts distract and surprise at every turn. Parties dine at the sarcophagus table complete with a coffin couch. Bring a party of 15 or more for great discounts on your game.
Lunar Mini Golf
Great Mall of the Bay Area
125 Great Mall Dr.
Milpitas, CA
(408) 262-0600
www.glowminigolf.com
Price: $8 adults/$6 children 5 and younger/$5 additional round
Hours: Mon to Thurs – 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri – 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
One small step for man, one giant putt into this trippy, blacklight, glow-in-the-dark course will have everyone loving its 18 holes. A true oddity, play through King Arthur's court with dragons and knights guarding Excalibur, then turn the corner and find yourself on the ocean floor among the fish, coral reef and giant squid.
Related: Top Bay Area Amusement Parks
Golden Tee Golfland
2533 Castro Valley Blvd.
Castro Valley, CA 94546
(510) 537-2168
www.golfland.com/
Price: $8.50 adults/$7.50 child
Hours: Mon to Thurs, Sun – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri to Sat – 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Golfland in Castro Valley has been a staple of the community for nearly 50 years. Built in 1963, the amusement center sits on land where a bank once made its home, and part of it still remains. The three dragons at the entrance rest on a mountain covering the forgotten bank vault. Now the only loot you'll find is in the redemption center where kids may exchange tickets for prizes after playing in the arcade. Take a stroll outside and enjoy not one, but two courses offering 18 holes, plus a bonus hole playing through castles, pagodas, Victorian houses and a windmill.
McInnis Park Golf Center
350 Smith Ranch Rd.
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 491-5959
www.mcinnisparkgolfcenter.com
Price: click here for pricing
Hours: Mon to Fri – 11 a.m to 6 p.m; Sat to Sun – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There's a little something for everyone at McInnis Park. Practice that perfect swing on the miniature course's 18 holes, or snag a snack at the bar. If you're feeling a little tee'd off, try your arm in the batting cages with baseball and softball pitches ranging in speeds from 40 to more than 80 miles per hour. Unlike other facilities, McInnis also offers a nine-hole course and double-decker driving range for adults who wish to play as well.
Related: Best Bay Area Shops For Workout Clothes and Sports Attire
Head to CBS San Francisco's Best Of page for more local tips on family fun, shopping, nightlife, food, culture and more!
Robyn Chelsea-Seifert is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. Her work has appeared in The Miami Herald, Creem, Hit Parader, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel and International Musician. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
