Victoria Burrow – Victoria, MN

Played on October 20, 2018

Reviewed by the Pink Putter

In the middle of the summer, we got a note from a guy named Jason about a new mini golf course he was working on that would be coming to Victoria, MN, a small town about 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis. He invited us to check out the space in progress, a former supermarket that was being transformed into an indoor entertainment complex complete with axe throwing, bocce, arcade games, food and mini golf. We got to see parts of holes waiting to be assembled, the start of the course landscaping and empty walls and spaces with big future plans.

When we heard that opening night would be October 20th, we made plans to play a round. It just so happened that our friend Amanda Kulkoski was in town that same weekend for the screening of her mini golf documentary Through the Windmill at the Twin Cities Film Fest. So after watching the film in the morning, we were thrilled to have Amanda join us to play at the brand new Victoria Burrow that evening.

Here’s Amanda posing at the Twin Cities Film Fest just after the screening of Through the Windmill

Rating

Par – This “Championship Level” course was designed and built by COST of Wisconsin to mimic the game play of real golf at a miniature scale. 18 holes made from foam and concrete covered in turf offer challenging game play but lack the elements that make the game of mini golf fun. The border of each hole is lined with thick turf and some short lengths of sculpted rock walls, giving players limited space to play angles off of. Nature inspired obstacles like rocks and wooden logs are placed onto some putting areas without any obvious risk/reward consideration, making their placement feel haphazard rather than deliberate. Another interesting thing about this course is that it was designed to play in reverse. Yes, you read that correctly. Each hole has two starting points, two numbers and two cups, however, one of the two cups was covered. This is so that the direction of the course can change at the manager’s discretion, thus altering the gameplay and theoretically adding interest in repeat playability. Of course, in reality, this system was confusing (the first hole was labeled as 1 and 18) and frustrating (open area reserved for reverse hole tee-off meant even more space where the ball could easily fly off the greens). In general, Mr. Tee and I make no reservations about our love of kitschy, obstacle-laden mini golf courses over the more realistic golf experiences, and unfortunately, this course is not our preference.

On the plus side, the space is well landscaped and decorated. Real tree trunks with fake leaves, fake trees and faux plants, real potted plants, small water features, lots of rocks, dramatic lighting and small props and animal figurines placed throughout the space create a Minnesota North Woods feel that was surprisingly homey for being in such a large space. The vibe is very reminiscent of the late Big Bear Mini Putt in Chaska, MN. You can also purchase drinks to bring onto the course and strategically placed tables and benches next to each hole were readily available for setting down your drink while you putt.

If you like the feel of real golf and are looking for a single indoor spot to play arcade games, throw axes, drink and grab a bite, Victoria Burrow could be the place to go. However, at $12 for 18 holes, we don’t recommend going out of your way just for the mini golf.

Snapshot of the space in progress back in June

There’s pizza and street food back there

New potted mum with a price tag still on it

Victoria Burrow website

Pros
Homey Minnesota North Woods theming with trees, rocks, lights and animal figurines
On-course drinking permitted and encouraged
Brand new course in tip-top shape
Other amenities on site including food, bars, ax-throwing, bocce and arcades games/VR

Cons
Challenging gameplay that feels more frustrating than fun
Poorly placed obstacles
Confusing reverse hole design

Nerdy Notes