Macclesfield: New Australian-themed mini-golf opens up in Adlington
By Alex Greensmith
3rd Sep 2024 | Local News
The summer holidays has seen Macclesfield families get stuck into a new day out in Adlington.
Australian Adventure Golf is a new 18-hole crazy golf course, which has just opened at Adlington Golf Centre.
While the sport is mini golf by name, it claims to be anything but small. The organisers claim it is the largest adventure golf in Europe, which while seems impossible to fact check, spreads across a site of 10,000 square metres with 1,500 square metres of playable surface. (An appropriate size for a the massive country the attraction is inspired after.)
The £2.5 million project has been over six years in the making.
James Moss is managing director at Adlington Golf Centre.
"We have had golf courses here for 32 years", he said.
"And our latest one opened last month.
"It has been a long-time coming, a big part of the battle we had was getting planning permission. It is of a reasonable size.
"We started construction twelve months ago, and as you'll be aware, this past winter was not the best conditions for any large project. So we are quite relieved to open!
"We looked to create some diversity in the business, and try to be more family-orientated.
"The Adventure Golf is suitable for all-ages and abilities, whether you are a toddler or a grandparent.
"Even the track around the course is wheelchair and pram friendly, so it is very accessible.
"It is a nice, easy family day out. In your fee, your putter and ball hire is included. Just turn up, park, and make your way around the course.
"It can take you anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to play."
To take part, it costs £10 per child, £15 per adult (14+), and £10 for Over 60s. A £5 spectator ticket for those who come with a group, but don't want to take part, can also be paid for. There is also a discounted family ticket for 2 Adults and 2 Children at £44.
Eight new jobs have been created, bringing the total amount of Adlington Golf Centre employees to 25.
James is one of five family members who work there. They are all very involved in the business and we even bumped into his father David who was adding to the gardens around the new course.
When asked about where the theme came from: "We spent a bit of time debating the theme, and wanted to do something different from the usual dinosaurs or pirate themes," James shared.
"As a family, we have quite a strong connection with Australia.
"We've all been there on holiday, a few of us have lived there and really enjoyed it. The more we thought about it, the more we researched it, we came up with some iconic Australian features and that's what we settled on.
"On the first day we had some Australians come and play, and fortunately they gave us a thumbs up."
To celebrate their launch, you can tag the Adlington Golf Centre on social media, to be in with the chance to win a free round of golf.
"What sets us apart is the scale of it", added James.
"One thing we are very mindful of is, a lot of crazy golf courses, you are playing around little models and small scale features.
"Whereas we want you to be right in it, and be submerged."
Indeed, three of the holes have you going inside massive caves, including one where you play under a waterfall and others where giant animals adorn the green.
"We wanted to create a space where golfers play through the features, and really feel part of the course," he explained.
"We have scaled everything up. Where we can, we have things life-size. So from the first hole, The Pinnacles, you are playing amongst life-sized Pinnacle structures.
"And where the scale got a bit too big, like the Sydney Opera House, we have scaled those down, but kept them to a large life-size structure.
"On hole 15, Uluru, is an actual 1:100th scale replica of the actual Uluru rock in Australia."
Themed holes include range from King George Falls and Wave Rock in Western Australia, to Sydney Harbour Bridge.
"What we wanted to do was try and pick landmarks, or key memorabilia associated with Australia," revealed James.
"A favourite of mine is the Aussie Truck hole, as we have a few hidden shortcuts on that hole. And we have a few scary ones like the spider hole, with a few surprises in there for the kids."
The theming features great attention to detail, bins both on the course itself and at the reception are themed to Australian products or patterns. Even the toilets have a down under theme.
"The feedback has been really quite positive, people have been really quite impressed with the scale," James also said.
"I guess we got used to the size as we constructed it, but it has been really great to hear the positive feedback, and how blown away people are by the size of some of the holes.
"In the future, we would like to get some more food and beverage on site. [Drinks and light snacks are only currently sold at reception.]
"We are looking to add a few more props. Although we have our snakes and kangaroos, we are looking to get a shark into the lake, and a few crocodiles. Not real ones, of course!
"Thank you to the community for their support."
You can book Australian Adventure Golf on this link. However, you can just turn up.
Adlington Golf Centre also boasts a pair of nine hole courses, a floodlit driving range, and footgolf.
You can also follow a Facebook page for the new attraction on THIS LINK.
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