Reviewed by Mr. Tee with Aaron from O-Street Mini Golf
As our photo and video-making abilities improve, there are some courses that just deserve additional documentation because they are so special and/or unique. Plus, there is literally nothing else out there like Ahlgrim Acres. I was fortunate to visit on my own back in 2014 given the challenging logistics of coordinating a stop to play at an active funeral home and my chance to revisit came courtesy of our friend Aaron of O-Street Mini Golf. He had never played any courses in the Chicago area but took the opportunity for a quick visit to play numerous courses in the 2021 M.C. Mini Masters hosted by Holey Moley Season 1 champion Mick Cullen. In addition to competing, Aaron had a handful of extra hours to visit other excellent Chicagoland courses, and top of Aaron’s list to play was this one-of-a-kind haunt in Palatine. Aaron talked to the funeral director and was able to squeeze in an appointment to their rec room before a funeral early on a Sunday morning.
Rating
My previous review from 7 years ago holds true. This is a special course that is more fun than scary. Hats off to the Ahlgrim family for bringing this into the world and allowing us to play!
I’mmmmmm baaaack!First reaction of Aaron from O-Street seeing this courseLove that there is an arcade, shuffleboard and more for the community to enjoyHonored to have our sticker displayed on the wallHole #1Hole #2 – Confirmed wooden case was used for transporting a coffin via trainHole #3 – This guillotine is still one of the most scary obstacles I’ve faced off againstHole #4 – Love the backside of this oneHole #5 – Windmill and bonus of -2 strokes if you make it underneath the blades through the narrow openingHole #6 – Creepy haunted victorian house that is tricky to navigateHole #7 – Watch the O-Street video below to see how many strokes this hole can tack onto your score if you’re unlucky enought to fall into one of the gravesNot easy to putt with this guy looking over your shoulderHole #8 – Traditional lighthouse with clever painted water hazard that adds strokes onto your score if you pass through.Hole #9 – Narrow passage uphill that takes you to a pipe to the finish or all the way back. Maybe the scariest putting hole on the courseThe light up eyes in the motuary school skull is a fabulous touchFrustrating pinball shot on #4 is so tricky. Not convinces, what both Aaron & I try to best this oneO-Street, Algrhim, & A Couple of Putts all hanging out at the graveyard of Hole #7Oh no, Aaron and I have to competeWho will win our match?! Watch the video belowWhen in Chicago, you get deep-dish pizza! It was so hot out that we opted to eat in the airconditioned confines of my car after finishing our play.Appears the windmill in the parking lot is undergoing repairFound the parts and look forward to seeing the windmill back at full-strength