Played August 23, 2013
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
Just behind the Science Museum in downtown St. Paul sits the Big Back Yard, a 9-hole EarthScapes mini golf course that serves as a hands-on exhibit about landscape erosion and bio-diversity.
Update May 2018
As you can see in the screenshot from the Science Museum website, Big Back Yard is no more.
Text on the site says:
“Due to space and land use needs required for building construction, the 2017 season was the last for the Big Back Yard.”
Rating
Birdie – We love when mini golf meets education and this course does it well. A variety of water features combined with hills, pipes and rolling landscapes makes for a quick and fun adventure. Signs on each hole give educational facts about the terrain. The course is also surrounded by native Minnesota plants complete with a course plant guide. And the bonus? You can explore the whole museum when you are done putting.
Pros
Educational and Fun
Well themed
Next to the river
On Science Museum premise, which means you can make a day of it
Panning for Gems and Large Camera Obscura activities that you can play in at the end of the course.
Cons
Short course
Hard to find (but a hidden gem when you do!)
Nerdy Notes
- Flags in holes
- Rubber covered putters
- 9 holes, par 19
- Open from the end of May to beginning of September, 10am-dusk
- Additional charge of $3 for kids ages 4-12 and $4.50 for adults with museum admission, or $5 after 5pm without museum admission
