Knoebels Mini Golf – Elysburg, PA

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Played on August 11, 2022

Reviewed by the Pink Putter

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I have memories of going to Knoebels Amusement Park as a kid. While I didn’t specifically remember playing the mini golf course, I knew they had one. Back in August 2022, when Mr. Tee and I were back out east for the O-Street Mini Golf $1000 Tournament, I requested a day trip to Knoebels with my dad in tow. In addition to classics like getting the brass ring on the carousel and riding the wooden coasters, we made sure to prioritize a round of mini golf on their classic 18-hole course.

If you’ve never been to Knoebels, it’s different than many amusement parks in that admission to the grounds is totally free and you pay for individual rides and attractions, coining it as “America’s Largest Free Admission Amusement Park”.

Rating

This quaint course is a true relic of the mid-century that’s nestled in the shade between other amusement attractions. A quiet retreat, it offers a fun and challenging course made with stone walls and adorned with mini golf classics such as a windmill, a wishing well, winding greens and lots of humps, bumps and jumps to navigate. The turf on the course was a little worse for the wear, probably due for a replacement sooner rather than later. But at a $5 price tag, it’s definitely worth playing a round if you’re at Knoebels!

Description from their website, “Hit the green for a relaxing round of mini golf on our custom 18-hole mini golf course. Tucked away in a shaded area, our mini golf course is a great place to escape the heat on a hot day or simply practice your putting skills as you navigate through a series of traditional obstacles.”

Map of the park, can you find the mini golf?
There it is!
Mini Golf clubhouse
My dad at hole 1
Classic windmill for hole 2
Teeing off at hole 3, which had a pneumatic tube that brought your ball to the top playing area!
When your shoes match the hole number
Mr. Tee at hole 5
Up, over and dog leg left
A wheel!
Stone bumps, which mat will you tee-off from?
Kozmo, the Knoebels mascot guides you around this half figure 8
Wishing well
Around the bend
An impossible shot into the snake’s mouth on hole 18
Mini golf banner flag

Now for some other Knoebels fun (not mini golf)!

Riding the grand carousel
We can never resist a good photo op
The Happy Birthday pavilion!
Swimming pool with roller coaster backdrop
The Loaf
Carousel history museum
A final photo op

Knoebel’s website

391 Knoebels Blvd, Elysburg, PA 17824

Pros
Located in the heart of a unique, fun and free-admission amusement park (also connected to a campground)
Classic mini golf game play and obstacles
Relatively quiet and shaded area

Cons
Worn turf with visible puckering and seams
Hole 18 is challenging to the point of causing a bottleneck

Nerdy Notes

  • 18 Holes. Par 48
  • $5/person for 18 holes.
  • Metal putters
  • No flags in cups
  • Like every other options at Knoebels amusement park, you can pay for each individual attraction and game individually versus having to pay for a pass.
  • Knoebels is America’s largest free-admission amusement park and opened in 1926
  • According to information we could find, the course opened in 1967
  • The nearby J & D campground also has an old-school classic mini golf course just off 487

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