Played October 8, 2011
Re-photographed on November 12, 2012
Reviewed by the Pink Putter. Re-reviewed in 2015.
Rating
Sandtrap – We found this course on the drive up to Franconia Sculpture Park from Minneapolis back in Fall 2011. It is right along Highway 8 (off of 35N) north of the Twin Cities. Fall 2012 I was back up near the course to go to the sculpture park and pulled over to take some additional photos. The course is clearly in shambles and in need of a lot of TLC, but it’s also evident that Highway 8 once had its heyday. There is something quite beautiful about the decay that speaks to a history of the course and the area. The play is flat, but packed full of fun obstacles and kitsch. Lots of variation and moving parts. There is no overarching theme, rather each hole seems to have its own motif, ranging from popcorn to cowboy hats. The course doesn’t pretend to be great; they charge a mere $2 per round of 18 holes. So even though it’s in a state of disrepair, it’s also totally worth the two bucks to play it, thus moving it from a Whiff to a low Sandtrap.
Pros
Classic mini-golf play
Lots of obstacles
Fun themes/kitsch
Cons
Poorly maintained
Many obstacles do not work
Old
Nerdy Notes
- 18 holes, no final hole.
- Attached Pro Shop and Driving Range
- $2 per round
