Article written by Wendy Helfenbaum.
After hours of swimming, sunbathing or touring your island of choice, a round of mini golf is a great way to get the whole family involved in a fun activity for a few hours. Set against a backdrop of tropical foliage, ocean views or sandy shores, these mini golf courses offer affordable fun and memorable moments for kids of all ages.
Anguilla
Ready for some fun in the sun? Play a round at Anchor Mini Golf in Island Harbour — 18 holes of tropical charm for the whole family! Photo courtesy of Anchor Miniature Golf.
This slender island in northern Caribbean is surrounded by more than 30 gorgeous, uncrowded beaches with secluded coves, dramatic cliffs and great snorkelling. And while you won’t see any large cruise ships, fast food outlets or casinos here, Anguilla does have two mini golf courses to choose from.
Located in the quaint fishing village of Island Harbour on the east side of Anguilla, Anchor Miniature Golf features a challenging 18-hole course with a lush garden and water features along the way. After your friendly competition is done, cool off and grab some ice cream at the snack shop. Be sure to make advanced bookings here.
Another 9-hole mini golf course is located at the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, a luxury 300-acre property on Rendezvous Bay and Merrywing Bay. As part of the Aurora Entertainment Park, families can also play pickleball or tennis here or enjoy the climbing wall and lazy river at the onsite water park.
Nicaragua
Mini golf makes for the perfect family outing — a few hours of friendly competition and laughter for all ages. Photo courtesy of El Clubhouse Catarina.
The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes. In the charming mountain town of Catarina, nature lovers will be wowed by the spectacular views over Apoyo Lagoon and can then head to the El Clubhouse Catarina. Here, families can play nine or 18 holes of mini golf surrounded by tropical trees and birds.
Visitors can also go horseback or pony riding, play games like cornhole, dominoes Jenga or go on a tour of the White Towns. The onsite restaurant serves classic Nicaraguan food after you’ve worked up an appetite from all the fun activities. The site is closed on Wednesdays. Check out the nearby artisan town of San Juan de Oriente on the way out – where they offer pottery workshops.
Sint Eustatius (Statia)
A family enjoys a round of mini golf with the ocean as their backdrop — just one of the scenic moments waiting at Golden Rock Resort, nestled on the slopes of The Quill in Statia. Photo courtesy of Golden Rock Resort.
This Dutch Caribbean island – known by locals as Statia – is a lovely, unspoiled destination with pristine nature, black sand beaches, colourful flowers and diverse cultural offerings.
At the Golden Rock Resort, a sprawling property located on the southeastern coast at the foot of the island’s dormant volcano, the Quill, families will find a challenging, fun 17-hole mini golf course. Open to hotel guests or visitors purchasing a day pass, the property also has tennis and pickleball courts, a children’s playground with swings and hammocks, and an ocean-fed saltwater lagoon. There’s also a train ride around the property, and trails through the gardens.
Choose from two restaurants – Bobbie’s Beach Club for casual fare or Breeze, which offers views over the neighbouring islands of St. Barts and Sint Maarten.
Bonaire
A fitting nod to Bonaire’s Dutch heritage — hole 7 at Flamingo Adventure Golf; photo courtesy of Flamingo Adventure Golf.
Renowned as the shore diving capital of the world, this tranquil Dutch Caribbean island has designated all its surrounding waters as a protected National Marine Park. Bonaire’s vibrant pink salt flats are home thousands of wild flamingos, which roam freely. It’s also the site of one of the only flamingo sanctuaries in the world, the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary.
So, it’s no wonder that the island’s mini golf course is called Flamingo Adventure Golf. Located on Kaminda Sorobon in Kralendijk, the 18-hole themed course is open through 10 pm and features animal and global themed holes. It’s free for kids under age three. There’s also a playground, two trampolines and an elevated lounge and bar area overlooking the greens where you can replenish your energy after the game.
Barbados
18 holes, zero stress — mini golf, Barbados style! Photo courtesy of Ball Park Events & Entertainment Centre.
On the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados – the birthplace of rum – there are gorgeous coral-sand beaches, calm turquoise waters on the west coast and huge waves on the east coast. Here, where West African and British heritage blend seamlessly, visitors can explore subterranean caves and enjoy 18 holes of miniature golf. Part of the Ball Park Events & Entertainment Centre in Christ Church, the challenging course provides fun for the whole family. After working up an appetite, guests can fuel up at the onsite café, bar and grill and then check out the other activities including sports events and concerts.
In St. Lawrence Gap, visitors can play the 9-hole mini golf course at the Southern Palms Beach Club & Resort Hotel surrounded by lush gardens and swaying palm trees overlooking Dover Beach, one of the area’s best beaches. Here, you may even spot endangered sea turtles because this is a known active nesting spot.
Article by Wendy Helfenbaum.Wendy Helfenbaum is a Montreal-based freelance journalist who writes about travel and lifestyle for dozens of publications.
Throughout her career as a journalist, freelance writer and television producer, she’s written and produced print or television features on a wide variety of topics, including news, business, health and fitness, parenting, celebrity profiles, art, home decor, entertainment, sports, consumer affairs, philanthropy and corporate incentive travel.
Wendy is President of Take Two Productions Inc., a freelance writing, television production and translation solutions company in Montreal, Quebec. She works with clients in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
