Played on April 4th and 9th, 2019
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
Yes, it’s true, Mr. Tee and I spent just over a week in southern California this past April for the filming of ABC’s new mini-golf TV Show, Holey Moley. And while we weren’t on set, we spent our “vacation” exploring all of the other mini golf courses that the area had to offer. Our first stop was the one closest to our hotel, which happened to be Mountasia Family Fun Center in Santa Clarita. Mr. Tee and I went out to play on our first night in town, and then I returned the next week with fellow Holey Moley contestants (and mini-golf lovers) while Mr. Tee was out filming. You may recognize a cameo by mini-golf reviewer and pro Pat Sheridan of The Putting Penguin, the Queen of Mini Golf Robin Ventura and former collegiate golfer Mollie Peterson. And before we go any further, we want to shout out a HUGE CONGRATS to Mollie for taking home the Golden Putter and the Green Plaid Jacket on last night’s episode of Holey Moley!
Rating
Par – Mountasia has a lot of perks upon first glance – a unique and photogenic food court, an arcade, go karts, lazer tag, bumper boats, a rock wall and two hillside mini golf courses with prominent water features. But once you actually play the mini golf, you find that the courses are old and the turf is so worn, that you might as well be putting on concrete. This leads to unnecessary and extremely difficult game play which makes for an overall frustrating putting experience. And when you look at the course par, it starts to feel like an unachievable goal. That’s not to say the courses didn’t have a heyday. The way the courses were designed brings players through an undulating journey up and down hills, through caves, over bridges and along winding staircases. But aside from its immersive landscaping, Mountasia doesn’t have too much else to offer in regards to theming or a unique game play experience. Now as a Family Fun Center, Mountasia has a lot of amenities, but if you’re looking for an excellent round of mini golf, there are much better options in the LA burbs.
Mountasia Family Fun Center website
Pros
Immersive hillside with undulating greens that take advantage of the landscape
Prominent water features with lovely lights at night
Other on-site amenities including go karts, lazer tag, arcade, bumper boats and restaurant
Cons
Worn down and torn turf lead to frustrating game play experience
Lack of fun obstacles and theming
Nerdy Notes
- Two 18-hole courses, Waterfall Ridge (Par 41) and Cavern Trail (Par 42)
- $9/round, package deals available
- No flags in holes
- The first four holes of Waterfall Ridge combined with the last five holes of Cavern Trail create a 9-hole Wheelchair-Accessible course
