There’s a certain kind of pressure that comes with adult mini golf. Usually, it involves a flimsy paper scorecard, someone losing a pencil halfway through hole three, and at least one mildly competitive friend insisting they absolutely did not take six strokes.
Courtesy of Puttshack
Puttshack eliminates all of that.
My husband and I recently checked out the Edina location at Southdale Center (our visit was comped), and what surprised us most wasn’t even the tech—it was the vibe. The sprawling space somehow manages to feel energetic without being chaotic, with a massive central bar anchoring everything. You can walk up and grab a drink between holes or settle into seated service before or after your round. It feels less like a gimmicky activity spot and more like a genuinely polished night-out destination.
Courtesy of Puttshack
The concept blends high-tech mini golf with elevated food and drinks, using proprietary Trackaball™ technology that automatically keeps score as you play. Each ball is linked to your game profile, tracking strokes, hazards, bonus points, and even special features like glowing “Supertube” shortcuts that can rack up extra points fast. Translation: no scorecard drama, no math, no arguments—just friendly competition.
And honestly, the courses are harder than they look.
Puttshack offers four different nine-hole courses to choose from, each packed with interactive obstacles, unexpected turns, and enough flashing lights and moving pieces to keep things entertaining even if your short game is questionable. We played one nine-hole course and quickly realized this isn’t the sleepy mini golf you remember from childhood birthday parties. (And because we are both competitive, my husband and I will be back to conquer the other three courses.)
Courtesy of Puttshack
But the biggest surprise of the night? The food.
Puttshack officially launched a massive new U.S. menu in April—the brand’s biggest refresh to date—with more than 50 new food and beverage items focused on nostalgic comfort food with a modern twist. Think shareable plates, upgraded bar food, playful desserts, cocktails, and zero-proof options.
We started with the Buffalo Chicken Dip, which arrived bubbling hot and genuinely spicy. Made with shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, cheddar jack cheese sauce, ranch, and green onion, it came with a tortilla-and-potato-chip blend that disappeared embarrassingly fast.
For our main shareables, we split the BBQ Chicken Flatbread, layered with barbecue sauce, herb-rubbed chicken, jalapeños, mozzarella, provolone, cheddar jack cheese, red onion, and cilantro. The standout for me was the crust—it had a hearty crunch instead of the overly chewy texture flatbreads sometimes have. We also tried the Quesabirria, which were essentially mini tacos filled with slow-braised shredded beef and melted cheese, served alongside a rich consomé dipping sauce and your choice of potato chips or fries.
Photo by Alesha Taylor
That balance seems to be the sweet spot Puttshack is aiming for overall. Yes, there’s mini golf. Yes, there are cocktails on the course (in fact, every hole has a counter-height stand to hold your drinks). But it also works surprisingly well as a casual date night (or lunch!), group hangout, or something to break up the usual dinner-and-drinks routine.
Minnesota currently has two Puttshack locations: Edina and the North Loop in Minneapolis. And after finally experiencing it firsthand, I get why people keep talking about it.
Pricing is also fairly approachable for a night out: one nine-hole course runs $14 per adult, while unlimited mini golf is $25, making it easy to turn a quick game into a full evening.
Puttshack, Southdale Center, 330 Southdale Center, Edina; puttshack.com
