71° M/CLEAR, Mini-golf challenge - Patio Playground in Topsail Beach is a step back in time
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 5:08 p.m.
Editor’s note: In 2004, StarNews writers John Staton and Amy Hotz challenged each other to a series of match-ups at nine mini-golf courses. The Hotz won the marathon series by only a couple of strokes over The Statonator. In the spirit of summer fun – and to give area courses a once-over – The Hotz-Statonator Challenge is being renewed. Through Labor Day, we’ll feature one course per week in Play, with a corresponding video online.
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It took a full day to settle in. But as I brushed my teeth the morning after playing mini-golf at the Patio Playground in Topsail Beach, I realized, “Wow. Just yesterday I was living in a John Waters movie.”
Patio Playground, a bright blue-painted cement block structure, offers an arcade, a bike rental shop, an ice cream parlor and, of course, mini-golf.
The course here hasn’t changed since 1955 when the place first opened, but don’t be fooled by the primary colors, the lack of an artificially-colored “river” and the bathtub toy obstacles. This course isn’t as easy as it looks.
Course: Patio Playground
Location/contact: 807 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach; 328-6491
Cost/hours: $6.50 for adults, $4 for children 8 and younger. 11 a.m -11 p.m. daily (last game starts at 10:30 p.m.) from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The course: It seems the holes are either super easy or super difficult. The facility has new greens and new clubs.
Level of difficulty: Medium. Knowing how to do bank shots is a necessity.
Fun factor: High. It really is like stepping back in time. And it’s fun to see how simple designs can offer tough play for a mini-golfer.
Best hole: Definitely hole No. 10. It has a vintage loopty-loop that’s great fun to play through. So far, we haven’t seen anything remotely like it on any other course.
Maintenance of greens: Good.
Par: 38
Staton’s score: 47, with no holes in one (235 after five courses)
Hotz’s score: 47, with one hole-in-one (226 after five courses)
After five courses: Hotz 3, Staton 1, with one tie
The final word: You’ve got to play this course at least once, if only to say you’ve done it.
Amy Hotz: 343-2099
On Twitter.com: @AmyHotz
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