Puttery Pittsburgh brings 'chic' mini golf to the Strip District
It’s certainly not your parent’s mini golf course.
Heck, it’s not even been your mini-golf course. Until now.
The high-concept Puttery Pittsburgh opens its doors Friday in the Strip District. And it greatly expands the experience of miniature golfing.
The venue’s three courses — The Lodge, The Library and The Garage — include obstacles to navigate such as a pair of ski boots, stacks of books and multiple speed bumps — and each course has its own signature drink.
The Lodge is a mini ski resort complete with racks of skis, poles and a polar bear statue. There are ski coats to be worn for photo opportunities on a chairlift and a wall-length fireplace.
The Library is decorated with bookshelves, a world globe and a Dimetrodon, a creature that predated dinosaurs.
In The Garage there are tires, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and vintage vehicles.
At a media event last Thursday, guests played the three courses, tasted culinary options and sampled specialty cocktails.
“I really like this place,” said Ryan Kerr of Aspinwall, as he sat in one of the antique cars with friend Zac Bell. “It is unique to Pittsburgh because there is nothing like this here. The attention to detail is amazing. It’s elegant. It’s … what is the word I am looking for?”
“Chic,” answered Bell, of the North Shore. “It’s definitely chic. We could spend hours here and not get bored.”
Puttery Pittsburgh is the sixth such location — along with Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. — owned and operated by Drive Shack Inc., a golf-related leisure and entertainment business. The Strip District business anchors The Vision on Fifteenth, an eight-story, mixed-use building featuring 275,000 square feet of commercial, research and retail space.
“Pittsburgh is nationally known for its energetic sports culture, so it was only a matter of time before we brought Puttery to the City of Champions,” Hana Khouri, Drive Shack president and CEO, said in a statement. “As a city also rich with innovation, cultural attractions and diverse culinary cuisine, the Puttery experience is a natural complement to the vibrant Strip District neighborhood.”
The cost to play one round is $18. Guests can reserve a time online or walk in to see if one is available. Participation is for groups of up to four. Each hole has a maximum of six strokes, and a digital scoreboard keeps track of players. Top scores are displayed on a leader board.
When guests are waiting their turn, they can have a drink at one of several bars or relax in one of the lounge areas. There is dining available and two VIP sections that can be rented. Every inch of the space has been meticulously decorated, from sparkling lighting fixtures to comfy chairs and colorful art work.
The space spans two levels and encompasses 19,000 square feet. Jim Scalo, CEO of Burns Scalo Real Estate, said in a statement that adding Puttery Pittsburgh is an “unrivaled amenity.” He said the modern workforce demands a workplace with amenities and entertainment options.
“It’s a game changer,” Scalo said.
Puttery Pittsburgh is at 116 15th St. The establishment is for guests 21 and over. Hours will be 4 p.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 2 a.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.