Signal By Golfbaren – Sundbyberg, Sweden

Played April 21, 2023

Reviewed by Mr. Tee. Guest appearances by Eddie Söderlund, Hans Olofsson, Martyn Williams, Marton Geda, Vojta Mikšovský, Seve Kukielka, Andrew Edmonds, and Balázs Tompa

My first trip to Sweden came about somewhat last minute. I had heard about the wonders of mini golf across Sweden from fellow competitive players and especially from the crew of the 54 Problems podcast. As I had been chatting with Andrew from 54 Problems about tournaments and Seve Kukielka, one of the top UK mini golfers, it came up that they had an extra space in their AirBNB during their trip for the CityGolf Tour kickoff in April of 2023. After looking up the skymiles I had stored up, I realized for under $100 I could travel over to Sweden and join up with a crew of players who play in the British and Czech Republic national competition associations. As part of all of the activities leading up to the 2-day event at the CityGolf course in Sundbyberg, there was an evening out for the players at Signal by Golfbaren to have a friendly competition and learn more details about the 2023 schedule of events on the CityGolf tour across Sweden and Finland. I had already played the Nacka Strand course was part of the Golfbaren suite of courses across the greater Stockholm area and was excited to play this course with a fun group of people I had been playing and practicing with for a few days.

Rating

There are some mini golf experiences that are special because of the course and others due to the wonderful company you share a round with. I can firmly say that my experience playing at Signal by Golfbaren was due to both the people and the fun 12-hole course. At this point in my trip to Sweden, I had already played a good number of courses built by Sweden-based CityGolf. All of the courses had a very clean and smart design with a mix of challenging and fun gameplay. This was the first time I got to see a fully operating Golfbaren course and all of the positives I had heard were well-founded. The course itself took the theme from the former factory space and businesses that inhabited the premises. Lots of simple metal shapes and on-theme obstacles dotted the undulating greens. The way the walls and playing areas were built into the floor helped with the overall integration of the mini golf into the bar and restaurant space. The focus of the space is definitely for an older audience looking to grab drinks and food along with their putting but unlike some other trendy chains popping up to serve adult social hangs, the game of mini golf is well-considered. This should come as no surprise as the man behind the suite of Golfbaren courses in the greater Stockholm area, Hans Olofsson, is one of the greatest mini golfers of all time. It’s clear in the design of the whole space that he’s eager to share both the fun and history of the game with people who venture into Golfbaren. I could go on and on about this course and all the other Golfbaren courses and will in future reviews but I’d be remiss not to focus on the company I shared rounds with at Signal on my visit. After only meeting Martyn, Marton, Vojta, Seve, Andrew, and Balázs a few days previously, I felt a deep kinship with these fellow mini golfers who came to Sweden from across the UK and Europe. This was on top of the wonderful hospitality shown to myself and our little crew by all of the top Swedish players especially the CityGolf Tour organizer, Eddie Söderlund, and Golfbaren owner Olofsson. Feels fitting to share this review during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend as I’m eternally grateful for the experience of playing this course with a ton of wonderful people.

We made it to Signal! Green turf carp is rolled out next to the cute outdoor patio

Attempted selfie turned out a bit blurry due to the lighting but know we’re all smiles

Vojta, Seve, Marton and Balázs watch on as Andrew tees off on Hole #1. He never has missed a shot on this hole.

Seve indulges my selfie. Fun to play with him in real life after chatting for the past couple of years

Vojta is a top-notch putters from the Czech Republic and he’s teeing off up hill to ride the curves to the cup

Marton is originally from Hungary but lives in the UK and plays for the Welsh mini golf club. He is taking on his 2nd putt on Hole #4 in a crazy rules round

Once again, Marton is faced with putting in a lot of traffic

Andrew and Seve looking for all the angles on #7 while Vojta sets up

Balázs, another Hungarian in the Welsh Mini Golf Club, hits the angle and looks for another ace

On #8, you can pick up some food next to this hole that incorporates a vintage tool as an obstacle

Narrow opening through the middle and slope behind the cup give a variety of ways to sink an ace

Everyone is looking for the narrow line to the cup on Hole #11

Welshman Martyn Williams looks to have navigated his way to an ace

Several Finnish players closing out their round on #12. You can score between a 1 & 7!

The ball can either go in the cup, stop in one of the valleys, head to the back wall, or roll back to the tee box. Love it when a final hole provides a chance for players to comeback or blow their lead

Martyn showing off the bagel with cream cheese and lox which was one of the many tasty food options in addition to pizza.

A little history of competitive mini golf in Sweden

Course owner Hans looks at the video of the Popstroke courses he dominated in 2023

Maybe the best house putters I’ve seen at a course and branded well too

Love the silhouette of Hans on the putter grip. All of the details are so well considered in the space.

Even the business’s vehicle is on brand and covered in turf. Chef’s kiss!

Signal by Golfbaren Website

Sundbybergs torg 1, 172 67 Sundbyberg, Sweden

Pros

Good variety of gameplay including a final hole that can swing the final scores quite a bit
Excellent incorporation of the history of the space into the hole design
CityGolf built with a smart skill-based focus
Clear this course was designed by a person who loves the game of mini golf
Creative uzse of space that integrates the course into the bar/hang spaces
Golfbaren branding of putters, scorecards and other elements was sharp looking

Cons

Wish there were more holes
For people who are looking for color and kitsch, this course doesn’t have it

Nerdy Notes

12 Holes.
Minigolf adult = 130 kr | Minigolf children up to 12 years = 70 kr
Open Wednesday – Sunday
Amenities include a full bar and food. According to their website, “The menu offers both lunch and dinner – good modern street food – ranging from snacks, pizza, salads, and ice cream to champagne and a wide range of beers and drinks. Vegan and gluten-free options are a given, as are good non-alcoholic options.”
From the website: “On the theme “Factory Chic”, Golfbaren Sundbyberg offers a really sharp mini-golf course on artificial grass in the old industrial building Signalfabriken in the center of Sundbyberg. Based on the history of Signalfabriken since the late 1800s with industrial activities such as Siverts Kabelverk, Järn-Alfa, LM Ericsson, but also the telegraph station and the Alpha Records of the 80s, we have designed a unique environment with inspiring storytelling.”