by Sydney Weber
Play Mini-Golf in Northern Michigan
In northern Michigan and looking for the best mini golf around?
Though there’s debate about where ‘Up North’ really starts (the Zilwaukee Bridge? Gaylord? Gladwin??), there’s no debating that northern Michigan has some great mini golf.
And because you must draw the line somewhere, we’re going to focus on mini golf in Ludington and northwards.
Read on for 11 amazing places to play mini golf in Northern Michigan.
Michi-Mini-Golf: Lower Peninsula Edition
Jaycees Mini Golf Course
900 W. Ludington Ave, Ludington 49431
Speaking of Ludington, we 12/10 recommend Jaycees Mini Golf Course, where putt-putt has a purpose. For the past 56 years, Jaycees has donated 100% of their proceeds to community fundraising. Plus, kids five and under golf free.
That’s not the only thing that makes Jaycees unique. The Landmarks of Ludington course takes you on a tiny tour of Ludington’s most memorable sites, from the Cartier Mansion to the S.S. Badger. Though it may be but mini, it will be fun.
Northern Falls Mini Golf
765 E Parkdale Ave, Manistee 49660
If the weather permits, you can pick any day of the week and stop by Northern Falls Mini Golf for 18 holes of putt-putt and some refreshing ice cream. Manistee’s location explains the ‘northern’ part of the name, and the ‘falls’ comes from the course’s star attraction, a watery cascade leading to a very blue pond.
Adventure Island
6083 M-115, Cadillac 49601
Warning: do not go to Adventure Island if you’re allergic to awesome mini-golf courses. Bridges, waterfalls, caves, ponds, and wildlife all star in this 18-hole course that makes us want to drive to Cadillac right now. After golf, you can hit a few in the batting cage, race along the go-kart track, or cool off in the air-conditioned arcade.
Check out their Daily Deals, too, like the Saturday Date Night special, which features mini golf for two, go-karting for two, and two waffle cones, all for $20.
Bavarian Falls Park
850 S Wisconsin Ave, Gaylord 49735
This mini-golf course has the usual 18 holes, but a little less usual is the fact that some of those are multi-level. And the fact that there’s a magic stream.
We won’t tell you how it’s magic, though, because that would spoil the fun. Waterfalls round out this lovely course, and you can also visit the nearby Call of the Wild Museum and gift shop.
More Top Spots to Play Mini Golf in Northern Michigan
Pirate’s Cove
1710 U.S. 31 North, Traverse City 49686
Billed as the original Adventure Golf, Pirate’s Cove has locations in multiple states, but the Traverse City site is the original, opened in 1983.
This has to be one of the coolest putt-putt places in all of Michigan: it has a pirate ship, bridges, caves, waterfalls, all spread out over a large and beautifully designed course. But wait, there’s more: a go-kart track, bumper boats, an arcade, and a ropes course.
Lee’s Miniature Golf
1016 S State Ave, Alpena 49707
Here’s hoping your golf ball doesn’t get motion sickness, because on Lee’s course in Alpena, there are ups and downs and ups and downs. The aesthetic is simple and geometrical, and the challenge is real—can you give the ball just enough energy to make it up one ramp but not down the other?
Hubie’s Wondergolf
1909 U.S. 23, East Tawas 48730
Right on the side of a major state road in East Tawas, Hubie’s Wondergolf is a fantastic place to take a break and take a shot at a hole-in-one. They’ve got 18 holes, where your ball will go under logs, down multiple levels, and all over hills.
Watch out for the big hill, though, because it is a doozy. The final hole puts you right at the door to the fudge house, where you can get some creamy fudge and scrumptious caramel corn.
Michi-Mini-Golf: Upper Peninsula Edition
The Mystery Spot
N916 Martin Lake Rd, St. Ignace 49871
There are some amazing places to mini-golf on both sides (and in the middle of) the Straits of Mackinac, but St. Ignace’s Mystery Spot gets the highlight because it’s, well, the Mystery Spot. There’s 18 holes of mini golf, a two-line zipline course, the maze in the woods, and of course, their famous tour full of crazy optical and spatial illusions.
Also check out:
- Animal Tracks, 220 S Huron Ave, Mackinaw City 49701
- The Greens of Mackinac, 6633 Main St, Mackinac Island 49757
Yoo-Par Scoops
1009 E Lakeshore Dr, Manistique 49854
It’s hard to say whether their mini-golf or ice cream is better, so we won’t make that call. Instead we’ll say that the ice cream is made with Wisconsin dairy and the course is open and sunny. Which means that going to Yoo-Par Scoops can make for a real nice day. Especially if you par (couldn’t help the pun, hehe).
Miners Falls Mini Golf
28 M-28, Munising 49862
It’s no surprise that a mini golf course in Munising, which is so close to Lake Superior, would have a lot of water elements in it. There are nine obstacles of the splashy variety, along with a fountain, ponds, and of course, falls. They’ve got the same Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream as Yoo-Par, too. Are we there yet?
U.P.utt Family Fun Center
2805 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba 49829
U.P.utt’s mini-golf is like no other course on this list. This Escanaba attraction glows in the dark. The black lights in the golfing area make the course, your ball, and your putter shine with neon radiance.
The four-seasons-themed decorations glow, too, so this is your chance to putt around a fluorescent turkey or eight-foot moose. The last hole gives you the challenge of feeding a ball to a bass. #FeedTheFishie
Well, there we glow! You now know where to find some of the best mini golf in all of northern Michigan. #MichiMiniGolf
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About the Author-
Sydney Weber is a Feature Writer for mymichiganbeach.com and a graduate of Indiana University. She grew up in the Detroit and Lansing areas and spent many weekends going down side streets to see what’s what. Sydney loves finding little gems of places wherever she goes.