DEFUNCT: Goony Golf (North Course) – Spring Lake Park, MN

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Mr. Tee with T-Rex

Played many times over the last 3 years.

Reviewed by the Pink Putter

During the first month that Mr. Tee and I started dating, we played a round or two at Goony Golf. Every summer since we’ve gone back over and over with friends and family. This course has an interesting history which roadarch.com does a really nice job of telling. I’ll sum it up for you here. The first course of its kind was called Sir Goony Golf and was built in 1960 in Chattanooga, TN by a company called Amusement Products.The distinctive style of the characters and obstacles were designed by Barbara Magrath, along with her husband Dutch Magrath. Sir Goony Golf was such a hit that by 1965 they opened 5 more locations throughout Florida and eventually there were 36 Goony Golf courses nationwide.  We are lucky enough to have one right in our own backyard of Spring Lake Park. Since this location has three different courses each worthy of their own review, we’ll start with the North Course.

Rating:

Hole-in-One – There’s no doubt about it, this relic from the 1960’s has somehow managed to survive in just a few locations around the country and is a true mini golf gem. Classic kitsch combined with a wide range of obstacles, traps, hills, jumps and tunnels makes for exciting and varied play. Favorite holes include the dinosaur and caveman, the alligator and the cow waterfall. While crumbling concrete and torn turf reveals this course’s age, it has still managed to keep its charm. The owners have shown some TLC through fresh coats of paint and working lights, motors and water features. Even if we didn’t live so close, this is definitely a course we’d go out of our way to play over and over.

Update: Goony Golf was permanently closed in July of 2017 and the land has been repurposed for senior living facilities.

Goony Golf sign now
Goony Golf sign now
Original Goony Golf sign from Chattanooga, TN
Original Goony Golf sign from Chattanooga, TN
Hole 1 - Humpty Dumpty
Hole 1 – Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty's coat tails
Humpty Dumpty’s coat tails and buttons
Hole 2 - Lumpy Humps
Hole 2 – Lumpy Humps
Hole 3 - Canaveral Special
Hole 3 – Canaveral Special
Death puns
Hole 4 – Boot Hill
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Mr. Tee’s brother posing for the shot.
Mr. Tee, Fall 2011
Hole 5 – Silly Bear. Mr. Tee, Fall 2011
Mr. Tee, Summer 2014. Glad some things don't change.
Mr. Tee, Summer 2014. Glad some things don’t change.
Our favorite, Hole 6 - Goonysaurus
Our favorite, Hole 6 – Goonysaurus
This one's from back in fall 2011.
The Pink Putter poses in fall 2011.
Mr. Tee helping fellow golfers save their ball from the alligator.
Hole 7 – Gator. Mr. Tee helping fellow golfers save their ball.
The Octopus, front view.
Hole 8 – Tentacle Timmy
Back of the hole.
Back of the hole.
Our friend Risa Puno takes a shot at the snail.
Our friend Risa Puno takes a shot at Hole 9 – Slo’ Poke.
Love this cactus-shaped trap.
Love this cactus-shaped trap at Hole 10 – Mexican Sombrero.
Mr. Tee at Hole 11 - Waterfall.
Mr. Tee at Hole 11 – Waterfall.
Hole 12 - Leapin' Lena,
Hole 12 – Leapin’ Lena,
Risa makes the jump at Hole 13 - Splash
Risa makes the jump at Hole 13 – Splash
Mr. Tee's niece with the Goony bird!
Mr. Tee’s niece with Hole 15 – Goony bird!
Hole 16 – Sir Goony’s Castle with an opening and closing door.

 

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Hole 17 – Pygmy Hut

Spring Lake Park Amusement’s website

Pros:
Classic kitsch, creatures and characters
Fun obstacles (closing doors, moving spiders, narrow paths, jumps, bumps, the list goes on)
Clean and well maintained
Picnic seating area and small arcade on site

Cons:

Some of the obstacles showing signs of age

Nerdy Notes:

  • rubber-covered putters
  • no flags in holes
  • 18 holes, par 43
  • snake pit themed 18th hole collects balls, free game if you ring the bell

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