Best mini-golf courses

In New York City, mini golf doesn’t have the gloriously kitschy aesthetic of the windmill-speckled courses that line the Jersey Shore. And several of what used to be Gotham’s better tracks (Goofy Garden Golf in Tribeca, Go-Kart City in Coney Island) recently laid their putters to rest. Putt-putt enthusiasts big and small must now do some serious exploring to find B&T-style small-scale links, but the joys of Easter-egg-colored golf balls and cunningly placed obstacles is worth the trip.

Manhattan

The City of Dreams on Governors Island
Artists lovingly fashioned the course’s eclectic 18 holes so that they could be enjoyed by even the smallest of golfers. The creators have combined nostalgia (a Skee-Ball machine from Coney Island’s now-defunct Astroland), imaginative meditations (the whimsical Astral Carpet Lounge, "a place for communal dreaming") and irony (one hole features an Enron stock certificate) to achieve a singular mini-golf experience.
Fri 10am – 5pm; Sat, Sun 10am - 7pm. Governors Island (figmentnyc.org). Travel: 1 to South Ferry, then take the Governors Island ferry from Battery Maritime Building, South St at Broad St, Slip 7. Free.

Randall’s Island Golf Center
Oftentimes, it takes more than 18 holes to decide a golf match—just look at Tiger Woods’s sudden-death victory over Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open in 2008 (which ended up going an amazing 19 extra holes). The same principle holds true for mini golf; it is very possible to finish the full round in a deadlock. Fortunately, Randall’s Island Golf Center has not one but two 18-hole tracks, allowing kids and adults twice as much space to duke it out. Both courses are well maintained with basic layouts, which helps cater to the less-advanced mini-Mickelson. Watch out, though, for the second hole on the first course: Infuriatingly, its hole-that-funnels-the-ball-down-to-the-real-hole gambit always seems to benefit the less skilled.
Mon 10:30am–11pm; Tue–Sun 7am–11pm. 1 Randalls Island (212-427-5689, randallsislandgolfcenter.com). Travel: 4, 5, 6 to 125th St, then take the M35 bus to Randalls Island. Adults $7, children under 12 $5 for the first 18 holes. Adults $4, children under 12 $3 to replay.

South Street Seaport Water Taxi Beach
While probably the least impressive course of the bunch, the locale, though touristy, can’t be beat. Of course, you’ll probably blow the nine-hole game because the view is so spectacular—and distracting. There’s also Ping Pong, Skee-Ball and, of course, sand to amuse the little ones.
Daily, 11:30am-8pm. North side of Pier 17, South St at Fulton St (877-974-6998 ext. 4, watertaxibeach.com). Subway: A, C to Broadway–Nassau St; J, M, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Fulton St. $5.

Brooklyn

The Putting Lot
How’s this for inventive entertainment? This mini-golf course was constructed in a vacant Bushwick lot, and a different team of artists and engineers collaborated to design each of its nine holes (ah, finally a course that doesn’t make you trudge through 18 excruciating components). The reincarnation of a yawning plot as a play space for youngsters isn’t just smart developing: The designers also hope the Putting Lot will spawn a discussion about urban sustainability. Through its example, the course helps folks reimagine dormant spots as vital community locales. The Putting Lot is open only through the summer.
Wed–Fri noon–8pm; Sat, Sun 10am–8pm. 12 Wyckoff Ave between Jefferson and Troutman Sts, Bushwick, Brooklyn (theputtinglot.org). Subway: L to Jefferson St. Adults $5, children under 13 $3.

Queens

Flushing Meadows Mini-Golf
Situated just outside what used to be Shea Stadium, the understated Flushing Meadows mini-golf course is easy to overlook. If you’ve got younger kids (or happen to be putt-putt challenged yourself), you’ll appreciate the nets that line each of the 18 holes like bowling bumpers—helpful for retrieving errant shots that inevitably go in the drink. The links have a reputation for being kid-friendly, so older players are typically understanding when youngsters cause a backlog at the hole. Also good to know: Parking is free and the concession stand stocks plenty of cheap beer for golf-weary adults.
Open daily 8am–midnight. 100 Flushing Meadows–Corona Park at Meridian Rd, Queens (718-271-8182, golfnyc.com). Subway: 7 to Mets–Willets Point. Adults $7.50, children $6.

Rockett Park Mini Golf
Have your kids learn while they putt-er about at the New York Hall of Science’s course, which was designed to illustrate how the laws of motion that guide spaceships are the same ones that cause golf balls to soar. Located next to two historic NASA rockets, the nine holes are laid out to represent the trajectory of a complete space flight. To “blast off,” children must swing with enough force to keep the ball from rolling back to them. The final hole, or “Splash Down,” requires tykes to putt toward a target on a rotating model Earth. It’s not the easiest course, so don’t be surprised if your children are eager to improve their scores—and tee off through the galaxy all over again.
Mon–Fri 9:30am–5pm; Sat, Sun 10am–6pm. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St at 47th Ave, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens (718-699-0005, nyscience.org). Subway: 7 to 111th St. Adults $6, under 18 $5.

Staten Island

Safari Amusement Park
Although this Staten Island course offers only 16 holes, its jungle theme (think giraffes, hippos, tigers, etc.) helps entertain younger kids who need a bit more eye candy to stay focused on the game. The holes, despite occasional sand hazards, aren’t overly littered with frustrating barriers—even the animal statues are used merely as decoration around the course, not as obstacles—so mulligans should be kept to a minimum. Safari also offers bumper boats and cars, batting cages and go-karts for pre- and post-putt-putt entertainment.
Mon–Thu 2–10pm; Fri 2–midnight; Sat 10am–midnight; Sun 10am–10pm. 855 Arthur Kill Rd at Richmond Ave, Staten Island (718-984-4400, safariamusement.com). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the S59 bus to Arthur Kill Rd. $6.75.

Staten Island GoKarts
If your older kid is more into practicing her short game than ricocheting balls off a faux lighthouse, let her hone her skills on the greens here. The fake turf is a little threadbare, so the ball tends to scoot quickly, upping the difficulty level. Meanwhile, obstacles like sand traps, waterfalls and hills make the 18-hole game seem more authentic. Try for a hole in one on the third hole (that’s where we scored ours!), and be careful on the 11th, which makes you carom the ball off an angled piece of wood—very tricky. As the name suggests, go-karts are available, along with batting cages and a roller hockey rink.
Mon–Fri 2–10pm; Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–10pm. 215 Schmidts Ln between La Guardia Ave and Manor Rd, Staten Island (718-982-5576, sigokarts.com). Travel: Take the X11 bus from Vesey St to Manor Rd. $6.