Putt-Putt Art

What is it with the lack of mini golf parks in Miami? You’d think in a flat, bustling town like ours, there’d be lots more places to putt a ball past the slowly turning blades of a windmill. But unless you count the trek up to Boomers in Davie, there isn’t much in the way of outdoorsy mini golf options. Until now. The Upper Eastside Garden is an oasis just off downtown’s busiest thoroughfare. And owner Peter Rozek has given his verdant paradise a distinctly Miami spin. The cool holes on his Back 9 mini golf course were all designed by contemporary artists, including Daniel Arsham, Hernan Bas, Bahkti Baxter, and Cristina Lei Rodriguez.

Despite the impressive artistry on display, Rozek wants to emphasize that this is just good old-fashioned, family-friendly putt-putt golf. “We don’t have the names of the sculptors who designed the various obstacles. If someone inquires, they can find out who made what. But we want everyone to come, relax, play, and be inspired,” says Rozek. Admission is three dollars for kids, five bucks for adults. Adult admission comes with a complimentary piña colada, courtesy of Grand Havana Rum. If you like piña coladas and playing golf off Biscayne, head on over today from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The course is open from Thursday to Sunday.
Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 2008