Played on November 27, 2015
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
Mr. Tee and I spent our Thanksgiving week enjoying San Francisco and visiting my sister, Emily. We were also excited because SubPar and Urban Putt were on our radar for years before this trip. We were fortunate to get to play both of these top notch courses and found that even though the two are indoor and regionally themed, they were very different from each other.
Update – This course permanently closed in fall of 2018. The Subpar course at Ghirardelli Square is their only location for this bay area small franchise.
Rating
Hole-in-One – SubPar is all-around unique and creative. From its walls covered in hand-painted murals to the integration of Bay-Area themes into fun gameplay, you are sure to have a great round at this Alameda destination. The course opened in 2012 and has since been featured in media outlets. We really enjoyed the hand-built elements and personalized touches throughout the entire space, which we highlight in the photos below. Some of the hole themes were a bit confusing to us since we aren’t from the area, but the handy course guide on the back of the scorecard answered all of our questions. The game-play had a nice balance of obstacles, tropes, skill shots, challenges and appropriately-themed fun. Another perk is that on Friday and Saturdays nights, from 7:30pm-close, you can play glow-in-the-dark golf! And in addition to mini golf, there are slot-car tracks, pool tables, arcade games and a party room. Their website even mentions renting out the entire facility for your next event, which we think is pretty awesome.
Pros
Unique, creative theming throughout entire space (murals, sculptures)
Fun, regionally-themed game play and hole design
Clean and well-maintained
Indoors means mini golf anytime!
Cons
Course design/hole layout created some congestion in specific areas while you were waiting
Some themes were confusing, especially because the holes were labeled by number and not names
Nerdy Notes
- Prices range from $5-$10 per person and vary depending on age and day of the week
- Other options include full facility rental for events
- Rubber-covered putters, no flags in holes
- Other amenities include slot cars, pool tables, arcade and party room available for rent
- Final hole does not collect balls
