Mulligan’s Island

Mulligan’s Island   1000 New London Ave, Cranston, RI 02920

The biggest problem that Mulligan’s Island needs to get fixed right away is their GPS location. Sure, there is a big sign when you are about to to make the turn at the main intersection, but if you follow your GPS, it will take you on a nice drive to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections and the Maximum Security prison. We were helped out by a nice security guard, but an odd start to our game!

Mulligan’s Island, which initially opened in 2022 and hosted the USMGPA Tournament in 2008, is part of an elaborate facility of batting cages, driving range, mini golf, chip and putt, and beach volleyball, and it was quite the busy day when we arrived on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. The miniature golf is actually two courses, a “Volcano” course centered around a Volcano which apparently shoots fire (although we didn’t witness it), and a “Pirates” course centered around a sunken pirates ship. The courses are fairly similar, although provide enough of a unique challenge that nothing feels repetitive.

The layout and the upkeep of the course is top notch, although we once again rage against all courses that have these obscene metal cups. The carpets were all in peak condition, although there is no set place to tee off, which can be a bit confusing. The main features are the beautiful waterfalls and rivers, which we always love! We have a few other technical gripes which may not bother the average player, but feel they are small enough changes to make that might enhance the experience. The scorecards are extremely generic, don’t even list the address or info about the business, and require you to put in your own par for each hole (labeled at the tee for each hole). We also notice that some holes have two possible pathways, but the more difficult one (usually one that helps you get closer to an ace) proved unhelpful, which just felt like a course defect rather than smart construction.

Par on each course was 44, and could probably be a few strokes higher. Our lowest score came on the Pirates course with a 48, and we only managed one ace on the entire course. The course can be extremely challenging, and a lot of that is by design, but some of it is by bizarre construction. However, our biggest gripe comes with the price, and it seems like that is not a new thing when it comes to Mulligan’s. The price is $14/adult or senior for 18 holes, and is $6/person for the second 18 (the replay option is apparently is a new addition). That makes it more expensive than any of our A+ or A-rated courses, and this facility does not have the creativity or inspiration to garner that kind of price. I guess the owners must feel they can capitalize on the lack of mini golf options in Rhode Island, but that just leaves an open space for competition.