Universal’s Hollywood Drive-In takes miniature golf in Orlando to a hole new level

Jim Hill

12 years ago

It looks like Universal Orlando has really hit a hole-in-one
with its new Hollywood Drive-In Golf complex.

Though the painters were still putting a few finishing
touches on these two 18-hole courses while I "played through" at last
night's press preview, it was hard not to be impressed with this new Universal
CityWalk venue. Which (I predict) is going to quickly become Central Florida's
new gold standard. At least when it comes to miniature golf courses.

This miniature golf course's silly signage does a great job …

"And why is that exactly?," you ask. To be blunt, Universal
Creative (who partnered with Adventure Golf Design and Development to produce these
two courses) didn't stint when it came to "Invaders from Planet Putt"
and "The Haunting of Ghostly Greens." Virtually every hole in the facility features
interactive elements like air blasts and water spurts, not to mention elaborate
sound and lighting cues.

… some of the colorful challenges that you'll
encounter as you wander the links.

Speaking of which … If you really want the full experience
when it comes to Hollywood Drive-In Golf, then I suggest that you schedule your
visit for after dark. Which is when — thanks to their spectacular fluorescent lighting
packages — these two 18-hole courses (which draw their inspiration from
classic drive-in era horror and sci-fi movies of the 1950s) really come to
life.

Then when you factor in this miniature golf course's witty
soundtrack (EX: When you're playing on the "Haunting of Ghostly Green"
side, you'll hear songs like "The Monster Mash," "Witchy
Woman," "Time Warp" from "Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Meanwhile over on the "Invaders from Planet Putt" side, you'll enjoy tunes like R.E.M.'s "The End
of the World as We Know It" and David Bowie's "Space Oddity") as
well as all the silly signs that you'll find scattered in & around these
two courses, Hollywood Drive-In Golf is one fun & funny spot to kill a few
hours the next time you visit the Universal Orlando Resort.

"So what's your favorite part of this new UOR venue?,"
you query. I don't know if it was Universal Creative's attention to detail (EX:
those cactuses that were planted in & around Planet Putt's Area 51 to give
this hole a genuine desert feel) to some of the more unique aspects of this
course (How many times to you get to play through a giant space slug? Or bring
a mad scientist's lab to life with a quick tap of a ball?). All I know is that
— compared to Hollywood Drive-In Golf — WDW's Fantasia Gardens and Winter
Summerland will now seem tired & tame.

More to the point, you really have to go out of your way on
property if you're looking to play miniature golf at Walt Disney World. Whereas
Universal's new Hollywood Drive-In Golf facility sort of redefines centrally
located. Guests who have parked their cars in UOR's two huge parking facilities
can't help but notice these two new miniature golf courses as they make their
way to Universal Studios Florida and/or Islands of Adventure. The speed ramps
& walkways that safely carry people across Hollywood Way and Universal
Boulevard actually pass directly over "The Haunting of Ghostly Green"
and "Invaders from Planet Putt."

In fact, if you'd like to eyeball both of these miniature
golf courses before you then commit to playing, this elevated walkway is
actually makes for a great viewing platform. You can get a real lay of the land
from up there.

You may notice that the mascots for these two
miniature golf courses …

But — of course — because this is Orlando that we're
talking about here, you have to pay if you want to play. If you're looking to play a single round of
golf on one course at Universal's Hollywood Drive-In Golf, that'll be $13.99
plus tax for adults and $11.99 plus tax for children (ages 3 to 9). If you're
looking to experience both "The Haunting of Ghostly Green" and
"Invaders from Planet Putt," you'll then be paying $24.99 plus tax
for adults and $22.99 plus tax for kids 3 to 9.

… share certain similarities.

Mind you, Universal Orlando annual passholders can expect to
get a 10% discount on admission to Hollywood Drive-In Golf. Which is currently
scheduled to be open for business daily from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

So if you're looking for a hole new way to have fun the next
time you're in Orlando, then why not swing on by Universal's Hollywood Drive-In
Golf? Sure, you'll have to spend some green in order to get in. But you're sure
to have a ball once you get out on these two new miniature golf courses. Though — that said — I can't guarantee that you won't get wind up in the ruff.

Get it? Your thoughts?