Hey there! Be sure to check out our NEW (2020) post on Hidden Valley Miniature Golf for all the details on their newly restored course and BRAND NEW outdoor restaurant! (We’ve just left this 2018 post here for the memories 🙂 )
For the most up-to-date information, please visit their website.
2018 Post:
Cut to the chase. Take me to the Momsense.
One of the many things I love about documenting our family’s adventures on the blog is being able to look back and see what kinds of activities my kids were able to do/interested in doing in past years. It’s fascinating to see how something that we’ve never tried before all of a sudden becomes a new favorite! Mini golf, for example. Two years ago we hadn’t written about a single mini golf adventure. But last year we added not 1, not 2, but 4 new mini golf outings to our list of places we’ve blogged about!
Clearly 2017 was the summer of mini golf 🙂
Well, we couldn’t let the summer of 2018 go by without at least one round of our new favorite pastime! So we took a reader’s suggestion and headed to Hidden Valley Miniature Golf and Batting Cages in Southington, CT.
When you pull into the parking lot, you don’t immediately see the golf course. With all the trees and vegetation around, it really does seem hidden!
That little gray hut is where you pay and pick up your equipment.
After you park, find your way to the little gray hut (pictured above) to the left of the snack bar (more on that later). Or if you need to make a pit stop, there are single restrooms in the larger building, which can be accessed from the outside.
Admission prices can be found on their website. Please note that it is CASH ONLY.
As soon as you get into this back area, the course comes into view– and it’s gorgeous!
According to their website, the course has 8 waterfalls.
We started with a little practice putting. I was surprised to find it pretty uncrowded for a Saturday afternoon.
This was not a hard course by any means (I seem to remember a lot of par 2’s), which actually worked out great for my fledgling putters and their, ahem, short attention spans.
Most of the greens were pretty straightforward and unadorned (unlike some of the other places we’ve visited like this one with life-sized safari animals and this one with all sorts of Swiss paraphernalia). No mini windmills or clown mouths here.
But what this course lacks in kitsch, it more than makes up for with good ol’ fashioned scenery!
This hole is in a tunnel under a waterfall!
You might get a teensy bit wet in here 🙂
Golfing in the “gristmill.”
Covered Bridge
The truly fabulous thing about all this “scenery” is that it makes for a lovely, shaded course. You don’t find that too often! So even though it was a hot day, we were very comfortable in the shade with a light breeze. Definitely my pick for mini golf in the August heat! This course also offers lots of shady seating options.
As we came around to the 14th hole, we saw a little glimpse of a shaded picnic area with two fun playscapes– a train station and a pirate ship.
There’s no additional charge for accessing this picnic/play area. You can find the entrance at the end of the course. (You’ll also find the batting cages over here.)
Follow the walkway all the way back.
There are several picnic tables in this shady grove.
You can bring your own picnic or purchase food from the snack bar.
We decided to grab something to eat before heading back to check out the play area. Something told me it would be easier to get the kids to actually eat their food without two giant playscapes looming in the background…
They have a full lunch/dinner menu including lots of kid favorites like hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, french fries and of course ice cream! CASH ONLY.
I’m so glad we were able to squeeze in a round of mini golf this summer! And so glad we found this hidden gem.
Hidden Valley Miniature Golf
2060 West Street, Southington, Connecticut
CONTACT@HIDDENVALLEYMINIGOLF.COM or
(860) 621-2428
Hours (2018):
Summer 2018 Business Hours:
Sunday – Thursday – 10:00am-9:00pm
Friday – Saturday – 10:00am-10:00pm
Please visit their website or call for the most up-to-date information.
*ALL HOURS ARE WEATHER PERMITTING – PLEASE CALL AHEAD DURING RAINY CONDITIONS*
*LAST GOLF TEE TIME IS 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO CLOSING TIME*
Pricing (2018):
Adults: $8.00
Children: (12 & Under) $6.00
Seniors: $6.00
Military Veterans: $6.00
Replay: $2.5
Scorekeeper/Spectator: $2.50
Please visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
Details (2018):
Stroller Friendly: Well, I wouldn’t say it’s stroller-friendly as there are several sets of wooden stairs to go up or down, but you could definitely maneuver with a stroller if you needed to (and you had another adult to help you lift it up/down stairs as needed). You’re welcome to bring your stroller on the course!
Coffee Mug Friendly: No. Food and beverages prohibited on the course (but you could certainly save it for the picnic area).
Restroom: YES
Baby Changing Station: NO
Parking: YES
Food for Sale: YES. Check out the Patio Grille menu HERE.
Outside Food Allowed: I think so. I can’t imagine they would create that whole picnic area and then complain if someones brought a picnic 🙂
Cash Required: YES! Everything is CASH ONLY. The website says that there is an ATM on site, but I must have missed it. I don’t remember seeing one.
Dress Code: Nothing special.
Age Recommendations: Hmmm. That’s a tough one. My kids really started playing mini golf when my youngest was around 3 1/2. Before that he didn’t really have the attention span for it. But you know your kids best!
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES
Discounts: Check this page for specials!
Birthday Party Venue: YES. Check out this page for more info.
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Pretty sure the ATM is down by the batting cages.
Less sure whether it’s always operational/full o’ cash.
Thanks for the tip, Kat!