DEFUNCT: Walker on the Green 2015 – Minneapolis, MN

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Played dozens of times between May – August 2015

Reviewed by Mr. Tee

This is the third year A Couple of Putts has been involved with the Walker Art Center Mini Golf course. I, Mr. Tee, took part in a design charrette with Amy, Yousif, Meena and Andrew with the goal of coming up with ideas for four new holes to be added to the Walker’s now annual mini golf course. Fourteen holes were held over from the 2013 and 2014 courses to fill out the rest of the course. Our theme was International Pop given the massive exhibition on display in the Walker Art Center through the summer months. In a matter of three hours, we sketched out a number of wild, unrealistic and fun ideas. The Walker Art Center ultimately landed on the four holes featured in the photos below.

Rating:

Birdie – Once again, it’s difficult to be unbiased and I’ll admit it up front. My name is on five of the eighteen holes on the course. If you scroll down the page, you’ll see our “Pros” and “Cons” of the course and not much changed from last year. The new holes all integrated turf and better playing surfaces than last year’s additions. My favorites are Don’t Blow It (our gumball designed hole), Snakebite and Putt-Pong. But the course is generally a blast to play over and over.

All that being said, I couldn’t give it our highest score. The new additions to the course our group came up with look fantastic but I don’t feel like they met the imagination and sketches we landed on in our charrette. While previous favorites Tilt-A-Putt and Garden Gnome Foosball were retired from the course for good reason due to wear and tear, the replacements didn’t quite capture the excitement of play found in their predecessors. Both the Pink Putter and myself are our own harshest critics so my hope is that this review leads to even better additions to the course for 2016!

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Course A, Hole 1: Keep on Truckin’. Pals A.J. and Jahna get the lay of the land at the opening.
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Tight quarters. The soda bottles started filling with mini golf balls since the opening.
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After considerable wear and tear to plastic bottles, the truck took on new obstacles.
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Friend Kyle from Minneapolis rock band Fury Things takes aim. New obstacles are holding up much better.
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Course A, Hole 6: Let’s Be Frank. Photo features friends from the Midwest, Katie and Will, who had just gotten married weeks before. They celebrated their honeymoon have fun across the Midwest.
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A.J.’s mustard color ball matches the dog nicely.
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Another angle of this Claes Oldenburg inspired hole.
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Course B, Hole 5: Red Haring. A.J. takes on this colorful two player hole that pays homage to artist Keith Haring.
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The newlyweds showing another angle viewpoint.
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Course B, Hole 7: Thrillo-Brillo. Referencing Warhol on this hole.
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Katie trying to get it through the narrow opening to the hole.
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Posing out CMYK style.
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This is an extra photo from last year’s new addition to the course, Snakebite! Kyle from Fury Things is watching the ball in action. This is one of our favorites even if there doesn’t appear to be a good chance at getting a hole-in-one.
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Scorecard with the titles and par scores  for all of the holes.

Smithsonian piece featuring the course

Walker on the Green: Artist-Design Mini Golf Website

A Couple of Putts review of Walker on the Green 2014

A Couple of Putts review of Walker on the Green 2013

Pros:

Colorful and fun design
Unique integration of other games (curling, table tennis, pool)
Course designed by artists
Walker Art Center & Sculpture Garden are a fantastic setting for mini golf

Cons:

Unintentionally challenging and frustrating at times
Numerous smooth, non-turfed playing surfaces
Price (although it does include entrance in to the museum)

Nerdy Notes:

  • Course A: 9 Holes, Par 28. Course B: 9 Holes, Par 26
  • SINGLE COURSE (9 HOLES): $12 adults, $10 students ($9 Walker members, children ages 6–12). FULL COURSE (18 HOLES): $19 adults, $16 students ($15 Walker members, children ages 6–12). Free for ages 5 and under with paid adult. Every ticket includes free gallery admission (up to $14 value) for each golfer. Tee times are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; no advanced reservations
  • Rubber covered putters with fine selection of colored mini golf balls with branding by U.S. Bank
  • Open May 21 – September 7. Open 7 days a week. Hours online and includes dates the course is closed for private events

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