Pioneer Park Mini Golf – Niles, IL

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Played July 10, 2021

Reviewed by Mr. Tee

The greater Chicagoland area is massive. It comprises over 10,000,000 square miles and nearly 10 million people. There are quite a few towns, parks, and mini golf courses across that expanse and I aimed to visit and play as many of those courses on a solo road trip to Chicago during a summer break in 2021. I found most of the courses easily but little did I know that there were two different locations named Pioneer Park in the northern suburbs. After an initial failed attempt, I eventually found this park that was jam-packed with kids playing baseball on a Saturday afternoon.

Rating

This is a solid course that was designed and installed by one of the larger companies that build miniature golf complexes in the US. In matching with the adjacent sports park, several holes incorporate elements from Chicago professional teams with general sports theming. Soccer, basketball, baseball, and American football were represented on the front 9. The back 9 included a few traditional safari animals like a hippo, gorilla, zebra, lion, and giraffe plus a water feature. The actual basketball hoop on hole 1 and the scoreboards were a nice touch. The gameplay include turf that was a bit run down and bricks that had wide and inconsistent gaps. I hope the turf is replaced soon as I could see it making the play rather frustrating if it is allowed to deteriorate considerably more. The plus side is that the course was designed to be accessed by a wheelchair. Overall, this is a fun course and worth a visit. Just make sure you go to the right park.

Park info
Hole #1 with a regulation basketball hoop
The kids seem to be enjoying the basketball theme in the group behind me. Take note of the access points near the back of the hole for wheelchairs.
Big baseball and vbat
The scoreboard features the two Chicago baseball teams with the Cubs in the lead.
The goal post was a nice addition to this American football themed hole
Keep the ball on the left side to get in the hole
Water feature is a little dry and not sure why there were two different cups
Uphill soccer (or football as the rest of the world calls it)
Water feature and some signage
Majestic zebra
Mr. Tee getting dangerously close to that hippo
Mean muggin’ Mr. Tee and his new pal
One of several holes with turf that is really poor condition
Short jump over the water
Three paths downill to the cup
and Mr. Tee hit it down the right path for an ace!
Glad to see the giraffe getting re-painted and just putting this sign back on
Golf cart, bill ball and Tiger Woods sign to close out the course at the clubhouse
Hope to get back here again
Basic rules
Love this style of hole signage
This is the other Pioneer Park in the northern Chicago suburbs that I went to by mistake that does not have mini golf. Make sure to map to this course correctly.

Pioneer Park Website

7135 N Harlem Ave, Niles, IL 60714

Pros

Sports theme was well incorporated
Safari animals are always a fun addition to a course
Variety of gameplay
Lots of nice detailed touches and signage

Cons

Turf needs to be replaced sooner than later
None of the holes incorporate themed obstacles

Nerdy Notes

  • 18 holes. No par listed on the scorecards
  • $7 per person (all ages) | $5 per person for groups of 20+
  • Seasonally open from early April until late October
  • Other amenities include automated batting cages, concessions, baseball fields, and playground and picnic area

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