Mini-golf surprisingly doesn’t have much of a presence in L.A. Given its reputation as a quintessential date or birthday-party activity, you’d think the city would be swarming with options. There’s Castle Park in Sherman Oaks—an outdoor classic, windmill and all—and Golf N’ Stuff (of Karate Kid fame) all the way in Ventura or Norwalk and… that’s pretty much it. Until this month, that is.
Holey Moley Golf Club is now open in a prime spot on pedestrian destination Third Street Promenade. A project from Australian company Funlab, which transforms familiar activities into “immersive worlds of fun where people can connect in real life,” Santa Monica’s Holey Moley is actually the sixth location in the U.S. and the first in Southern California—another opened in San Francisco over the summer, and a spot in Irvine is coming soon.
I went to check it out with our video editor, Danny, and it’s easy to see why the concept has proved a success for Funlab thus far. The retro putt-putt destination is campy fun and lets you cut loose and feel like a kid again—albeit with booze.
Amid the stores and eateries of Third Street, you’ll find the entrance to Holey Moley. Head up an escalator under a constellation of disco balls to find the first course (there are three courses, and 27 holes in all). Right away, you’ll see a Pacific Park–themed hole where you try to hit your golf ball through a Ferris wheel.
But before you pick up a club, turn right and make a stop at the Caddyshack bar. You can order playful, sweet-leaning cocktails like the Rub a Dub in the Tub—served in a surprisingly large bathtub vessel complete with a mini rubber ducky—or the Sugar Caddy, which comes with Wonka Fun Dip powder to mix in. The night I visited, everyone was walking around with the Pop Till You Drop, a vodka-based watermelon drink served in a cutesy ceramic unicorn head.
Take a beat on the balcony, which overlooks the shopping street, or head right into the main event. I was hesitant to saddle myself with a drink before embarking on a round of golf, but worry not: Each hole has a little platform where you can stash your scoring card and drinks. (Although that would prove tricky for the Cadillac Disco, a multiperson cocktail served in half a disco ball that I saw a few people indulging in.)
Now, the golf. Holey Moley packs a lot into a relatively small amount of space, so in the beginning we did feel a bit cramped, but we were too busy being charmed by the imaginative holes to mind. The nine-hole courses—one on the second floor, two on the third—will find you putting your way through a haunted house, a graveyard (“Par for the Corpse”), works of art, even a glass cubicle full of flying dollar bills. I was a fan of the challenging “Vincent Van Golf” hole, which re-created the artist’s famous painting The Bedroom at a slant. Some of my other favorites were “A Ssslippery Ssslope” and the Rube Goldberg-esque “Lose Your Marbles,” which switch things up so you don’t get bored.
The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of decades-spanning hits; we golfed to Flo Rida’s “Low,” Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani. Which brings me to the karaoke: There’s also a private karaoke room upstairs that fits 15 people. I am adamant that under no circumstances would I ever do karaoke, but when I went inside and heard “This Love” by Maroon 5 slide into “I Predict a Riot” by the Kaiser Chiefs, it actually had me questioning my stance, which is no small feat. Between the soundtrack and framed memorabilia throughout the space—old Happy Meal toys, a Posh Spice doll, E.T. on VHS, etc.—the ’80s and ’90s nostalgia is strong here, which, as a kid of the ’90s, I unironically enjoyed.
There’s also a food menu (which I didn’t have a chance to sample) consisting of safe bets like burgers and sliders, nachos, pizzas and Greek-style fries with feta, followed by churros and ice cream for dessert. Also on offer are puns aplenty, present everywhere from the names of the holes (“Morning Tee With Granny,” “Smells Like Tee Spirit”) to the Instagram-friendly neon lights throughout the space (“No ifs, just putts,” “I like big putts and I cannot lie”… you get the idea).
By the end of the night, I was thoroughly won over. There’s a lot going on in the space, but once you embrace it, it works. Putt-putt golf for adults seems like such a simple concept, but I can’t think of anywhere else quite like Holey Moley in L.A. I’m guessing it’ll get a lot of business not only from Santa Monica shoppers but also private parties—corporate events, high school reunions, bachelor or birthday parties. Speaking of which, it’s worth noting that even though it’s being marketed to adults, Holey Moley is in fact open to kids (accompanied by an adult) until 7pm Fridays through Sundays and until 8pm Mondays through Thursdays, making it a fun family option too.
When I left the preview last week, I overheard a conversation between two passersby as they clocked the Holey Moley facade: “That’s a cool name,” said a guy, to which his friend replied, “Golf and karaoke—I can’t wait” (a surprisingly genuine exchange for L.A.). If their anticipation is any indication, I think Holey Moley will fit into L.A. quite nicely.
Holey Moley is located at 1315 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Prices range from $14–$15 for nine holes, $22–$27 for 18 holes and $26–$36 for 27 holes per adult. It’s open Monday–Wednesday noon to 11pm; Thursday noon–midnight; Friday noon–1am; Saturday 11am–1am; and Sunday 11am–10pm. For more information, visit holeymoley.com.