Played on January 12, 2013

Reviewed by Mr. Tee

After our early day sub-par experience at Pike’s Pass I was eager to take on anything and fortunately, the next course up was Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf. I had seen pictures online and being a music junkie it was hard not to be eager to play our first rock themed course.

My relationship with the music and image of Kiss is love/hate. We can all admit it, as far as bands go, Kiss is pretty dumb. Whether it’s the ridiculous banter of Paul Stanley or the the simplistic lyrics of many of their songs, the band isn’t known for being high brow. Despite this, Kiss created enough memorable songs and an image that’s hard to ignore. In fact, I’d be surprised if anyone reading this review is unfamiliar with at least one of their songs. I’ll even admit to having a soft spot for some of their more ridiculous moments and went through a phase of listening to Kiss’s “Music From The Elder” on a regular basis. The real question is, can Kiss translate their gimmick in to a memorable mini-golf experience?

September Update 2018 from Mr. Tee

The course has moved onto the main Vegas strip and into the Rio hotel at 3700 Flamingo. From photos, the course looks like it has most of the same obstacles with new black light art on the walls.

Rating

Hole-in-One -The coure is located right off the main Vegas strip across from the Hard Rock Hotel. We somehow drove right by it initially but we should have been able to pick it out based on the the massive Kiss themed tour bus outside and red velvet rope lined entranceway.

Kiss may have missed the mark more than a few times with their music but their collaboration with Monster Mini-golf puts the ball right in the hole. Kiss themed props and environments make it stand out in the crowded field of black light indoor mini-golf courses. When it comes to the band, the excessive Kiss branding is usually a bit much for my personal liking but works perfectly as a unifying theme for the entire course. Using the musical instruments as both obstacles and a way to add dimension to the course worked out nicely. The animatronic Kiss band on stage was slightly creepy but equally served to tie the play space together nicely. The game play is a bit simplistic at times but accounts for a variety of skill levels. A DJ plays Kiss songs and takes requests which adds a unique fun/cheesy element . I requested the much maligned Kiss album “Music from the Elder” and the DJ happily played several songs off of it. Aside from the ease of play, the only other negative was the price. At $12, it’s one of the pricier courses we have played. You can get a $1 discount if you get the mobile app but the app also costs $1. In the end, it was exactly what a Kiss themed mini-golf course should be: over-the-top and fun.

Near misses, requests and hole-in-one:

Final hole:

Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf Website

Pros

Indoor and outdoor appropriately themed
Animatronic characters
Fun obstacles
Fits the overall vibe of Vegas
Interactive mobile app
Onsite DJ taking Kiss music requests and calling out trick shots

Cons

Price – $12 a round
Simplistic play

Nerdy Notes:

• 18 holes, Par ?
• 5 stroke limit per hole
• Glow in the dark rubber putter covers and balls
• Mobile App available for scoring. Includes $1 discount on play
• $11.95 per round
• Kiss open mic and live band Kiss-aoke on Mondays
• Available for groups, parties, special events and weddings
• Space includes arcade, gift shop, party room and “Hotter than Hell” wedding chapel.
• Rules on the score card include “Climbing, hitting or sitting on our Monsters and props is prohibited…and mean.”