We chose to go with an academic style rating system. While it’s not perfect, it hopefully gives you a complete but quick snapshot at our thoughts on a course!
The Basics:
As is the case in school, a “C+” for a course or in an individual category would be considered a middle of the road, generic, or average. Nothing too special, but also not the extraordinary. Anything above a “C+” will indicate something above average, while anything below starts to dip below average. You can see our more detailed explanation below.
We will usually try to go in-depth on each category in the body of our review as well to give you an idea of why we rated it as such. In addition, when rating a course, we are always looking at our previous course ratings to make sure we are still accurately comparing these course when possible.
Overall Grading System:
EXCEPTIONAL
A+ Only the best of the best. Put on your MUST SEE list!
A Spectacular course, but for some reason, not the best of the best
GREAT
A- Superior course that could be exceptional with an small update or two in one of our categories
B+ Superb and unique course that everyone can enjoy with some minor inconveniences to more seasoned players.
PRETTY GOOD/ABOVE AVERAGE
B Unique and interesting course that maybe has some flaws, or an interesting standard course that has gone above its potential.
B- Standard course that maybe has one or two flairs that bump it up, or an interesting course that has a few deficits that knock it down.
AT OR ABOUT AVERAGE
C+ Our standard course, middle of the ground, average. Nothing exceptional but also still has potential.
C Bordering on falling below average due to subpar conditions or experience
BELOW AVERAGE
C- Someone put some effort into it, but that’s about it.
D+ Only good if it’s the only one in your area, and even then, it’s a bit rough
KEEP ON DRIVING
D Probably not worth the money or time.
F Absolutely not worth the time or money.
Categories:
Atmosphere: This looks at our experience of the course and our time at the establishment. Everything from the people who run it to the quality of the equipment and course itself is factored into our atmosphere rating.
Difficulty: This category can be hard to rank, because what may be difficult to one person may not be on the same level as someone else. In order to kind of curb this, we will usually take into account whether the course feels challenging or more simplistic in it’s design and structure. The higher the grade, the more challenging, and potentially rewarding, we felt the course was for us.
Price: A huge factor for us when we play is price. One of the reasons we love mini-golf is that it is an affordable activity for people to do together, so we take this category very seriously. Pricing doesn’t just mean whether it felt high or low as a dollar amount, but whether the price justified the experience you had. An exceptional course might be priced a bit higher, but the experience is worth it. The higher the grade here, the more bang you’ll get for your buck.
Creativity: This looks at the specific course design and theme. Does it feel unique or is it something we have seen many times before? We also are thinking about the design of the holes and how unique or interesting they are. We may also factor in some of the difficulty level here; did someone put a lot of thought into the course or was it pretty generic. The higher the grade, the more unique a course is.
Some Personal Quirks:
FAVORITES:
Water Features: We love how great and well kept water features can add to the design and majesty of a course, and also provide a cooling atmosphere on a hot summer day.
Good Maintenance: We really value courses that are clean and well kept; these small things can make even a basic course an extremely enjoyable experience.
PET PEEVES:
Raised/Rubber Tee Mats: Not only do they affect your swing, it can be incredibly hard for some people with back or knee problems to place their ball properly.
Metal Cups in Holes: These are always one of the first things we notice when playing a course, and they are extremely unforgiving for any level of golfer.
Mini Golf Matters 