Played on August 12, 2021
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
On our vacation out east to the Jersey Shore in August 2021, we set aside a few days in Philly at the front end of the trip. One of the courses on our list to play was Libertee Grounds, a new bar/mini golf venue in the heart of Philadelphia. We headed there our first night in town for some food and of course, putting.
Rating
Upon entry to Libertee Grounds, we were required to show our Proof of Vaccination. After that, we were give wristbands and wearing masks became optional. All of the staff kept their masks on regardless. This, in combination with how quiet it was (we got there right when they opened), made us feel comfortable enough to grab some food and drink. The entire upstairs/main floor is the bar and restaurant featuring pan-Asian fare, with the mini golf course and game area in the basement. We started off our experience with a cold drink and put in an order for a variety of Happy Hour snacks. While were were waiting for our food, we headed downstairs to check out the course.
The course in super unique in that six of holes are shaped to literally spells out the word “Philly”, and then the other three round out the Philly theme with nods to local landmarks. The game play is fun and challenging and is directly designed around the shape of each hole/letter. Because it’s located in a basement, the temperature is cool and without windows, the owners were able to be intentional about their lighting choices, which included a mix of string lights and LED neon. An added bonus was the mural of Philly’s boathouse row behind Hole 4.
After playing a round, we headed back up to enjoy our food. While we normally don’t review food at the mini golf courses we visit, we’ll throw in a rave review for our meal at Libertee Grounds. We ordered Kimchi Mac & Cheese bites, Laotian Crispy Rice and the Hummus Tandoori and everything we ate was unique and delicious. We’d definitely eat there again.
And here’s a video from our friends over at O-Street Mini Golf:
Pros
Unique hole design spells out “Philly”
Fun and challenging game play inspired by the shape of each hole
Nods to local landmarks
Cons
At 9 holes, the course is a bit short
Nerdy Notes
- 9 holes, Par 23
- final hole collects ball
- Proof of Vaccination required for entry
- Mini golf tee times can only be reserved in conjunction with a table reservations with a “w Golf” tag. Applicable parties will have an opportunity to choose between available tee times upon checking in with our host. Available tee times are first come, first served, and generally include options between 45-90min from the table reservation time. All beer garden reservations are outdoor and weather permitting. Table reservations can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Additional tables and tee times are set aside for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis
