Tropical Gardens – Asheville, NC

DSC_7203

Played on March 26, 2015
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
Since January and through the end of June, I am doing an Artist Residency at Hub-Bub located in Spartanburg, SC. While there are many exciting things happening in Spartanburg, there isn’t a whole lot of mini golf just yet (although it will soon be the new home of Sparkle City Mini Putt). Cities like Asheville, Charlotte and Columbia are only about an hour drive and Myrtle Beach is just 3 hours.

In the beginning of the year, the online mini golf community shared a great article from the citizen-times featuring Tropical Gardens. As soon as I read it, I knew I needed to make a visit. I grabbed Desiree, a fellow Artist-in-Residence, and we made an afternoon trip to play this classic.

DSC_7157
Desiree in front of a Rhino

 

Rating:

Hole-in-One – There’s no doubt about it, Tropical Gardens is indeed an Asheville icon and a mini golf destination. The course cleverly integrates the hill that it’s built into every aspect of game play. Players start their journey on top, work their way past the waterfall and down and giant sloped hole to the lagoon at the bottom. At every turn there are fiberglass rhinos, giraffes, zebras, elephants and flamingos. The layout of each hole follows the natural landscape and terrain, making for a wide variety of play ranging from angles and shots with kitschy obstacles to giant downward slopes and pipe play. Because we played at the very beginning of their season, the waterfall wasn’t turned on, but they promised me it would be soon and the last time I drove by it was. There are a lot of other fun surprises, which the photos and video will reveal. If you are in the Asheville area, this is a must-visit course.

DSC_7217
Main entrance.
DSC_7162
Hole 1-The Black Swamp
DSC_7167
Hole 2-Rock and Roll
DSC_7166
View of the course from the top near hole 2.
DSC_7165
That’s one tall giraffe!
DSC_7168
Hole 3-Short Cut?
DSC_7170
Hole 4-The Cliffs
Hole 6-Snake Pit
Hole 5-Voodoo Hill
Hole 6-Snake Pit
Hole 6-Snake Pit
Hole 7-Pygmy Run
Hole 7-Pygmy Run
Hole 8-Camel Back
Hole 8-Camel Back
Hole 9-Which Wave
Hole 9-Which Wave
Hole 10-Tiger Leg
Hole 10-Tiger Leg
Hole 11-Blue Lagoon
Hole 11-Blue Lagoon
Zebra!
Zebra!
Hole 12-3 Tears
Hole 12-3 Tears
Hole 12-Alligator Alley
Hole 12-Alligator Alley
There's the gator!
There’s the gator!
Hole 14-Burial Grounds
Hole 14-Burial Grounds
Hole 15-Lava Flow
Hole 15-Lava Flow
Hole 16-Flamingo Road
Hole 16-Flamingo Road
...and the flamingos
…and the flamingos
Hole 17-Barrier Islands
Hole 17-Barrier Islands
Hole 18-All Mine
Hole 18-All Mine

Tropical Gardens Website

Pros:
Fun kitschy obstacles and course decor
Wide variety of play including hills, rocks, bumps, pipes, themed obstacles and water

Cons:
Some holes in needs of minor maintenance (i.e. rotted wood)

Nerdy Notes:

  • 18 holes, par 41
  • Adults $7.50, Children (under the age of 9) $6.50, Toddler (3 and under) $2.00
  • no flags in holes
  • rubber covered putters
  • Batting Cages and shaved ice on site

 

 

 

You may also like