While downtown Lake George may boast the site of the first original miniature golf courses in the world, I was totally won over by the psychedelic cheeriness of the 1970′s era Goony Golf located on Route 9.
(I don’t know when he lost his title but it seems as if Sir Goony Golf – once part of a chain of mini golf courses -is now just regular ol Goony Golf according to their website)
Though nothing rivals my hometown love of the Route 1 Miniature Golf Giant Orange Dinosaur in Saugus MA, I was glad to see cousin presiding over Goonyville during our game:
As we drove up to Goony Golf ( with a quick stop at the gift shop -oooh try saying that 10 times fast!) I was battling a headache and the sun was behind clouds. But as soon as we paid our greens fees under the watchful glare of Jack atop his bean stock (looking like an axe murderer practically) things began to cheer up immediately.
I mean how could I feel so blurgh with all of these crazy miniature golf holes to play, and photograph? Take a look at just some of the snapshots below and you’ll see what I mean. Even the sun came out during our visit – and best yet, we had the place to ourselves, so I took photos galore! Please note, there are a lot of holes I did photograph but didn’t post here because, well there should be some surprises when you go play!
I couldn’t help but feel like I had stepped into HR Puffenstuff when walking around these brightly painted oversized cartoon characters and groovy flowers- and could just imagine the Brady kids having a Sunshine Day here.
And there was even a harkening back to my own 1970′s childhood when, By Golly A Lollypop was Following Me- and I really didn’t know what to do!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvbqwwsf7Jk&feature=player_embedded]
So while I could note that the repainting jobs on these vintage 1970′s creatures could’ve been done with a little more love, and BOY I wish they’d give the Goonybird some eyes, I’ll take the brightly colored snakes, bears and dragons over a plain brown organic miniature golf course any day!
Goony Golf
Corner of Rte 9N & Rte 9
Lake George, NY 12845
(518)668-2589
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?gl=us&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111885710047859082033.000487469a3b86a907ac0&ll=43.411033,-73.708134&spn=0.021823,0.036478&z=14&iwloc=000488a0d5c773b10f9e9&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
http://www.goonygolf.com/
The picture of you with the lollipop is just darn priceless
RetroRoadHusband has the cutest little expressions … he’s a keeper! It looks like he’s channeling Greg Kinnear in his pic!
He is indeed a keeper, and a good egg at that- considering how much I loathe to be in front of the camera he’s always willing to ham it up for my photos so it doesn’t seem like everyplace is void of people! Mmmm, ham and eggs, can you tell I just wrote my next post about a diner breakfast?!
Funny thing about me and photos – I think I’ve been in no more than two on my very own blog, and both times I happen to be wearing one of my Vintage Roadside tee shirts! I do have other clothes, but I have to say those give me luck when I’m out Retro Roadmapping and having fun!
Next time you’re heading to Florida, plan to see Fantasia Golf next to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. I think it’s still there! It was visually over-stimulating when I was a kid growing up there!
Sounds like a plan – thanks for the tip Jeff!
Fantasia Golf by Lowry Park was demolished over 15 years ago.
Dan – what a bummer! Cool site you have there though! Thanks for sharing the photo!
See old brochure of Lowry Park that shows a photo of Fantasia Golf, on my site at http://www.tampapix.com/zoo_old.htm
Thanks Betty, and you’re welcome. When I was a kid in the 1960s, I was scared to death of those giant creatures at Fantasia Golf. I still remember the last hole. From the tee it was straight up a steep ramp about 8 feet long, then an elevated flat area about 3 feet high, about 8 ft x 8ft. On the far side of the platform was a huge turtle facing the tee. His head swayed side to side with his mouth wide open. If you made your shot into his mouth, it went down a pipe into a special bin in the office, so you would win a ticket for a free round. But if you missed the turtle’s mouth, it rolled under his shell and off the back via a different pipe and no free game.
I can imagine those sculptures could be nightmare provoking – especially at the scale they are when you’re a little kid! Never thought of the fact that the ball could go down into the office so they’d know to give you a free game – I’m picturing someone doing paperwork then *plop!* a golf ball lands in the middle of the desk!