‘Tis the season for festive catchups. You need an activity suitable for the whole family. Something that will be enjoyed by ‘kids from one to ninety-two’. Or maybe you just fancy doing something a little different?

Whether you’re stopping by for a round after a day of Christmas shopping or looking to make a night of it, here’s how mini golf can be your perfect festive get-together.

Golf and food deals

Whether it’s pre-game fuel or a post-round celebratory meal, dining out is the perfect beginning or finale to your golf trip. A number of our sites offer various golf and food deals which are sure to enhance your golfing experience.

Our Eat Drink Putt deal consists of one round of golf, plus a meal courtesy of our food partners – available at Cheshire Oaks, Glasgow, and Plymouth. Food partners vary from site to site, so visit our website to find out more about your nearest site’s offering.

Our Plymouth site has its own onsite cafe bar – The Bunker – which offers various food and drink deals on a stylish mezzanine above the courses. One of our most popular offerings is the Pitcher & Putt, which entitles guests to a round of mini golf plus an hour and a half of unlimited cocktails in the Bunker. Yes, unlimited!

Cocktails taking your fancy? Try our Tee Off & Tapas deal at Cheshire Oaks. Enjoy a round of golf plus two tapas dishes and two cocktails per person, courtesy of our food partner Las Iguanas.

If that wasn’t enough for you, we’ve recently launched a new deal in partnership with Pizza Hut at our Livingston site – present your used Paradise Island Adventure Golf receipt at Pizza Hut, OR your used Pizza Hut receipt at Paradise Island Adventure Golf to receive 20% off your total transaction.

Corporate and group offers

Our two eighteen-hole courses make the perfect setting for events, whether it’s a work night out, team building exercise, or just a day out with a group of friends.

The Bunker within our Plymouth site also doubles up as an event space, making it a unique location for whatever you may have planned. Alongside our existing food and drink deals, we can also create bespoke packages including golf, food, drink, and DJ hire, all tailored to your needs and budget.

Christmas is the perfect time to catch up over a round of adventure golf – visit our website to explore our offers and make your booking!

If you’re particularly organised, you may have already gotten your Christmas shopping out of the way (and good for you if that’s the case, because the shops are about to get busy).

Whether you’re shopping for a die-hard mini golf enthusiast or just looking to treat the family to an activity everyone can enjoy, we’ve put together the definitive Paradise Island Adventure Golf-themed gift guide.

Maggie plushies

Meet our mascot, Maggie McCaw. You may have seen her on social media, or even met her at one of our Meet Maggie sessions – and now you can give your own little Maggie a home in time for Christmas! Our plushies are the perfect souvenir from your visit – they also make great desk buddies.

The Maggie plush is only available instore, so be sure to grab one from your nearest site while stocks last.

Gift vouchers

Give the gift of adventure golf with one of our vouchers, available to be purchased and redeemed at all eight of our sites.

Vouchers can also be purchased online and delivered to your inbox immediately after purchase – good news for all you last-minute shoppers(!).

Don’t just give the gift of mini golf this Christmas – give the gift of lasting family memories. How about adding an annual mini golf trip to your Christmas traditions?

You’re in the midst of freshers season. You’re all partied out and can’t face the thought of another 3am kebab. There’s probably an entire corner of your flat dedicated to your overflowing recycling bin at this point. There may have been passive aggressive messages exchanged on the flat group chat about unwashed dishes, food mysteriously disappearing from the fridge, or noise next door when you were hoping to get an early night before your 9am lecture.

You need something different. Something that’s not partying, isn’t going to break the bank, and gives you the chance to spend some quality time with your new flatmates or course mates.

How about a mini golf trip?

Aside from being a gateway to the game of golf and a great time in its own right, mini golf is also a fantastic icebreaker – making it the perfect choice for first dates. By that logic, golfing with your new uni mates may just lead to some lifelong friendships!

The bonus? You can make a saving on your golfing adventure with our student prices across all Paradise Island Adventure Golf sites – simply present your valid student card at the paybooth upon arrival.

Some of our sites even have student-related offers, such as Derby’s Two Fore Tuesdays or our Young Scot offer, which is valid at both Glasgow and Livingston.

You’ve taken the leap and embarked on the adventure of student life. Now, it’s time to embark on a golfing adventure – so visit our website to find your nearest site and see what offers are up for grabs in your area!

According to a 2019 survey by Golfsupport, 85% of singles who went to golf-related venues on their first date saw a higher success rate for a second.

‘Mini golf is a perfect casual first date idea. Loser buys ice-cream after’, suggests one Reddit user.

What if we told you a couple who had their first date at our Sheffield site even got engaged there back in 2016?

Golf Month is celebrated in August each year, so if you’re thinking of hitting the greens with your partner, we’re here to talk about why mini golf is the par-fect date.

It’s fun

Mini golf is affordable, casual, and provides the perfect opportunity for some friendly competition. Plus, you’re sure to make some memories you can recall for years to come.

It’s a great icebreaker

If you’re looking for an icebreaker activity for a first date, mini golf could be a great option. As you putt your way round the courses, there will be plenty of opportunities to chat and get to know each other (and have a laugh at each other’s attempts!).

You can make an evening of it

We believe mini golf makes a fantastic date by itself, but if you want to make a day or evening of it, you can grab a bite to eat before or after your round.

Whether you’re looking to grab a quick burger or indulge in a meal and cocktails, all eight Paradise Island Adventure Golf sites are nestled among a wide variety of bars and restaurants. Our Plymouth site even has its own bar!

Ready to get planning your mini golf date? Visit our website to find your nearest Paradise Island Adventure Golf and book your tee time today.

Founded by the PGA on the principle of making golf more accessible to family members of varying genders, ages and skill levels, Family Golf Month is celebrated each year in July.

Although it’s always a great time to learn golf, many PGA professionals offer reduced (or even free) activities for golfers of all levels during Family Golf Month, making it the perfect time to embark on your golfing journey.

Here are three ways you can get your family out golfing this month:

Mini golf

Fun fact: the first time many kids hold a golf club will be at a mini golf facility. It’s a great way of introducing kids to the game – earlier this year, we spoke about the role mini golf plays in getting kids golfing. So if your child shows an interest in golf – or if you’re a golfer yourself and it’s something you’re keen to introduce to your kids – taking them mini golfing could be the perfect introduction to the game. Plus, it’s the perfect fun activity for the whole family!

Driving ranges

Whether you’re brushing up on your swing or simply letting off some steam, children and adults alike will have a great time hitting some balls at your local driving range. Many ranges also have technology which allows you to gain valuable insights into your performance.

The PIAG Open

As the 152nd Open tees off at Royal Troon, we’ll be teeing off in paradise with our very own annual Open championship. Entries are categorised into three age groups, with one lucky winner from each group taking home the PIAG Open trophy and a pass entitling them to six months of unlimited golf. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce kids to the game and familiarise them with the rules, as well as teaching sportsmanship.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf x England Golf

Earlier this year, Paradise Island Adventure Golf partnered with England Golf, supporting them in their mission of ensuring the sport has a sustainable future by getting more people playing. This partnership also allows us to offer a discount to England Golf members. Visit our website and select your nearest venue for more information.

There’s no better time than Family Golf Month to get the whole family golfing – so find your nearest club, mini golf facility or driving range and swing right into the world of golf!

What do Paradise Island Adventure Golf and the sport of miniature golf have in common? They both began in Scotland!

To celebrate National Miniature Golf Day this Saturday 11th May 2024, we’re exploring the Scottish origins of both Paradise Island and of the game itself.

Putting & pipes

The putting game – widely said to be the earliest form of mini golf and still played as a practice game today – was first played in Scotland back in the 1800s, and the Ladies Putting Club in St. Andrews is said to be home to the world’s oldest mini golf course. Early courses relied on scrap items such as old pipes, barrels, and tires to act as obstacles.

Teeing off stateside

The United States’ first mini golf course was developed by James Barber in 1916, cleverly named Thistle Dhu (a play on words, as in ‘this’ll do’).

By the end of the 1920s, mini golf had experienced a boom in popularity across the pond. New York City alone had 150 courses, many of which were situated on the rooftops of the city’s iconic skyscrapers. Unfortunately, most of these closed when the Great Depression hit.

Swinging into the 21st century…

In 2006, the first of eight Paradise Island Adventure Golf sites would open its doors at XSite (then known as XScape) at Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow.

The vision for Paradise Island was to bring a premier indoor mini golf spot to Scotland. At the time of its opening, mini golf was still very much an outdoor activity – which doesn’t always make for a pleasant experience with the UK’s unpredictable weather! Paradise Island promised to invite the golfer indoors for an immersive adventure amidst a tropical oasis.

In 2008, Paradise Island Adventure Golf Manchester opened its doors in the Trafford Centre, becoming the first of six English venues. A second Scottish site within Livingston Designer Outlet opened in 2012, the same year in which our Sheffield site launched. Cheshire Oaks opened in 2015 and Derby in 2017, with both Plymouth and Rushden Lakes following in 2019. Eighteen years on from the birth of Paradise Island, we now have visitors up and down the UK enjoying our tropical brand of indoor adventure golf!

A tee-riffic evolution

From moving indoors to the introduction of ornate obstacles, mini golf has come a long way from the days of unpredictable weather and scrap metal. Today, you’ll find everything from courses with various theming to glow in the dark decor, such as our Cheshire Oaks octopus pictured below (fun fact – glow in the dark mini golf originated in Scandinavia as a result of their short, dark days).

You can even make a day of your mini golf adventure as many facilities now have options for food and drink. We’re not biased, but we think our Bunker bar in Plymouth is pretty neat!

Fancy celebrating National Miniature Golf Day with us? Visit our website to find your nearest Paradise Island and book your tee time.

Sources:

https://www.smugglersgolf.com/blog/the-interesting-history-of-mini-golfs

https://top-facts.com/10-interesting-facts-about-mini-golf/

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/sports/golf/basics/who-built-first-miniature-golf-course.htm

Mini golf is a fun activity which can make for a great day out. Part of that fun, however, is the challenging nature of the game. Whether you’re playing with friends, family, or your significant other, you’ll be surprised at how competitive even the quietest player can become on the course!

At Paradise Island Adventure Golf, we have our fair share of challenging holes. Keep reading to learn more about some of them – and use your newfound knowledge to beat your friends on your next visit!

Five challenging mini golf holes at Paradise Island Adventure Golf:

Hole number: 5

Course: Maggie McCaw’s Challenge 

Location: Glasgow

What makes it tricky: This is notoriously one of the most difficult holes across all eight Paradise Island sites. Hit it too softly and the ball will run back to your feet. Hit it too hard and you’ll be at the other side facing another tricky shot!

How can it be conquered? Speed and line have to be near perfect to get a par on this hole. A hole in one is possible, but focus on the speed to avoid a high score. You could also urge whoever you’re playing with to go first in order to watch and assess how hard to hit the ball(!). 

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Hole number: 3 

Course: Tiki Hut Trail

Location: Glasgow

What makes it tricky: This is a traditional adventure golf ‘risk/reward’ hole. Hitting the ball into the small entrance and subsequently sending it down the correct pipe may just result in a hole in one, however this is made difficult by the slope and narrow entrance. If you hit too hard or too soft, you’ll have to negotiate a putt among the rocks on the lower level.

How can it be conquered?

No laying up… go for it! Make sure you hit the ball hard enough to get up the slope – even if it goes down the wrong pipe, you still have the chance for a two or three. You might just get a hole in one if you’re accurate!

Hole number: 5

Course: Tiki Hut Trail

Location: Plymouth

What makes it tricky: Don’t be fooled by this short hole – it can be a real scorecard wrecker! It’s easy to underestimate the slope of the log ramp, or hit it too hard. 

How can it be conquered? If you don’t make it up the ramp first time, it’s best to take the safer route to avoid running up a higher number. Dare your playing partners to take on the difficult route and watch them crumble! Remember – eighteen holes is a marathon, not a sprint. This is a good chance to get a few shots up on your playing partners.

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Hole number: 19

Location: Glasgow

What makes it tricky: Each Paradise Island Adventure Golf site has a nineteenth hole, giving players the chance to win a free game at the end of their round. Glasgow’s is arguably the most challenging due to the angle of the ramp, and the fact that the ball needs to be hit about twenty feet before it can reach the hole. 

How can it be conquered? Winning depends on accuracy – and just a little bit of luck – but it can be done! Don’t overthink it and give it a good whack. 

Hole number: 11

Course: Shark Bay

Location: Derby

What makes it tricky: Don’t be fooled by the lack of obstacles on this hole – the sheer length of it (over thirty feet!) makes it play consistently over its par. It can be difficult to get the correct momentum on the ball required for it to reach the hole without being repelled to the sides. Even if you get your first shot in or around the hole, a two or three is not guaranteed.

How can it be conquered? It’s all about speed on this one. Don’t be afraid to hit it past the hole as the kerb behind will act as a back stop, giving you a second chance of the ball entering the target.

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These are only some of the challenging holes on offer at Paradise Island Adventure Golf. Keen to try them out for yourself? Visit our website to find your nearest site and book a visit!

When was the first time you ever held a golf club?

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