While some adults think golf is “a good walk spoiled,” mini golf is a whole different story. Families can play together and even toddlers can get into the action. Kids love the kitschy themes and the chance to best their parents with a lucky shot. My family has enjoyed playing together in lobster and lighthouse themed courses in Cape Cod and pirate themed ship courses in North Carolina during Summer vacations, and there are many area locations like Safari Mini Golf in West Orange to play during fair weather.
But there’s no need to wait until sunnier days. I found a few nearby places to play mini golf indoors year round when the weather outside is frightful:
Monster Mini Golf
If your kids like glow in the dark ghoulish décor, head to one of these locations for 18 holes. It’s a trippy Halloween vibe in a large open space. The graphics do glow in the black lights but it is bright inside and not scary for kids. The Monster theme is fun and goofy and there are lots of puns for the kids to get. Wear white, stripes and bright colors for maximum effect to glow inside the facility.
There is an area for arcade games run like a Chuck E. Cheese’s or Funplex with tickets awarded to redeem for the usual small items. There is a virtual tour link on the Fairfield location’s website for the play area and the party room. Birthday parties as well as class trips, fundraisers and even weddings (!) can be booked through their group sales department.
Monster Golf Mini Golf
194 Route 46 East, Fairfield, NJ.
Locations also in Paramus, Union, & Nanuet. See website for locations and directions.
Pricing: Little Monsters $8, Big Monsters $9. Season passes are available. Discounts are available for military personnel, as well as fire, police and EMT professionals.
Extended hours for President’s Day 2/17 are 12 pm -9 pm. Check website for regular daily hours.
Bogota Golf Center
At one point in your life, you might have played golf at Kapalua and now you play mini golf with your kids in an indoor complex by NJ railroad tracks. Such is the exciting life of a parent. At least the indoor sports center in Bogota has a mini golf course with fountains inside a high ceilinged space. Plus, there are batting cages, a Bankshot basketball court and driving range to offer something for all the sports fans in your party. The mini golf course is very straightforward and in one enclosed large area so it is easy to see and contain wayward toddlers as you play through. We went after school on a weekday and it was almost empty.
This location has a cafe with hamburgers and snacks but also Chinese food. The location is a bit far from Montclair for a kids’ birthday party but is a fun visit on a cold day if you happen to be going to Lowe’s on Route 17 in Rutherford or shopping in Paramus anyway.
Bogota Golf Center
30 Cross Street, Bogota, NJ 07603 (201) 489-2400
Prices: Adults $8, replay $6, Children under 12 $6, replay $4
So put on your plaid pants and have an Arnold Palmer. Spring will eventually arrive. “Caddyshack” might even be on TV again before the next snowstorm.