Beautiful Grounds, Fun Time
This place was my first experience with mini golf, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed.
Tired of the beaches (it was still a bit too cold for them anyway), my friend and my brother's fiancee wanted something to do while the boys were off fishing. So... mini golf!
There are courses everywhere you turn in Panama City, but the clincher for us was a $2.00 off each person for unlimited passes. These passes were good for the rest of the day they were purchased as well as for the next day until 5 pm. This bought us access to two mini golf courses and a giant maze.
What impressed me the most were the grounds. There were a few mudhole spots under maintenance at the time, but the sheer abundance of flowers, bushes, and green lawns was very beautiful, and you could tell that the rough patches were going to be planted over pretty soon. The waterfalls, fish pond, and giant savannah animals were lovely touches that added to the whole experience.
The holes were not terribly challenging. About half of the holes were 3 par, and the other half were 2 par. Most of them were straightforward, but there were a few with underground tunnels or on-green gimmicks designed to give you a hole-in-one should you dare to use them. One grounds keeper warned us that the gimmicks weren't as good as they used to be due to years of re-turfing, but they seemed to work just fine for us.
The Gran Maze was a fun little challenge. Here's a tip: do it on a mild or even cold day. You will be in the maze for at least 20 minutes, and depending on the time of day, you won't have much shade. You are supposed to get your ticket punched at each of four pavilions located at the center of the maze. The fastest times for each day are displayed on a board outside of the maze. It is also re-arranged every so often, so if you enjoyed it one time, don't worry: it's probably a new experience.
If you're tired of the beach and the pool, Coconut Creek is a nice alternative. $16 per person may seem a bit steep, but the beautiful gardens and fun times to be had are well worth it.