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Peter Pan Mini-Golf
Rating Details »
Categories: Amusement Parks, Golf, Mini Golf [Edit]
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)1207 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 472-1033
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
48 reviews for Peter Pan Mini-Golf
This place is old school. My kids love it and it doesn't take forever to get through the course. There are huge statues that blow their minds. It reminds me of the courses I used to play as a kid. Honestly, I'm sure it's been around since before then.
It's cash only. . . .
3.5 stars.
We went to Peter Pan the other night after dinner for a little entertainment. We arrived about 10:45pm, just before they let the last groups start. The park closes at exactly midnight (they turn out the lights) so we felt a bit rushed to finish in time since the group in front of us was going especially slow. All in all, it was still very fun and we did finish (with less than one minute to spare).
How in the world could it take 1 hour and 15 minutes to play 18 holes of mini-golf you might ask. Simple. Peter Pan allows you to bring your own beer and play as long as you want. On the night we went, it was crowded. There must have been 100 people on two 18-hole courses, some toting coolers. The atmosphere was celebratory, but not rowdy. There were children having fun as well as college students, parents, grandparents, etc.
The course itself is pretty fun, but dated. We played the course that starts out on the McDonalds side. I like the vintage look of the course, and that actually made it more fun for me. Most of the holes are pretty straight forward. Some are very challenging. I got a hole-in-one that I still cannot figure out how it happened.
The price is right at $5 per person. It is only $2 for a second round of 18 holes. Bottled waters are $1, which you will want to buy if it is 100 degrees, like it was the night we went. I think it is cash only, but they might accept a check. If it wasn't for the fact that this is the only putt-putt around and the BYOB factor, this place would earn a lower rating.
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This place is sweeeeet! It's great for groups and you can BYOB! Just remember no glass. And best of all, it's cheap.
If you live in Austin and haven't checked this out, it's a must! Find your inner child.
For those who require perfection in every aspect of their lives, putt putt included, you probably wont enjoy yourself here. I choose not to be so critical when i want to have a bit of fun. I mean c'mon. Peter Pan has been here for like 50 Years OK. Its not gonna be Agusta National with its perfectly manicured course. And so what if has a few wrinkles in the greens or an age spot or two on the giant dinosaurs. Your supposed to be enjoying yourselves.
So i got to play host to my son, daughter and our niece here and it turned out to be a big hit. I love how kids can have fun almost anywhere. We started out keeping score but that lasted like 2 1/2 holes. Then we didn't care anymore cause whats the point. They were giggling, running around, cheating...you know...having fun !
I am thankful that there still is a Peter Pan putt putt to get the kids away from their video games and ipods...And if your not careful...you just might have fun and enjoy yourself as well.
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I had the weirdest experience at this place the last time I was there. Im not entirely sure its a good thing or a bad thing.
First of all, one has to love a mini-golf place which lets you bring as much beer/wine/whatever as you can carry through your 18 hold putting adventure. As always, the later you go - the more fun it is.
On my last adventure, I perhaps got on the bad side of things because I was two purple margarita's in and had asked the attendant if I could get a 2nd ball if I lost my first - actually, Im pretty sure I said I needed 2-3 balls cause I knew that some of them were going to be "lost." He apparently didnt agree with me. It was at this point where we were all questioning his sobriety. Actually, I was pretty sure he was sober, but Im not sure he was off drugs.
Anyway, at some point and time he must have really got flustered with our crowd, cause he started claiming I (and we) was a pedophile. Uhm. Yes, I just said that. It took me a moment to register it once he blurted that one out. Ive been called many a name in my day, but I think he won the championship with that one. So, he came out like 4x through the course of the night to visit our group. By visit, I mean look awkwardly at and blurt out wild rantings. The first was to accuse our group of being wild raving pedophiles (yes, again). The second was to make sure we werent getting in trouble. And the final couple were to apologize for accusing me of that fact. Each successive time he would come out, he was weirder and weirder.
I believe at this time, we were all looking at eachother... our group had blossomed from 3 people to about 10 as all teh drunkards banded together as one larger group. To a man (and woman) we all suggested that if we ever had kids, we wouldnt bring them there when this guy was working.
Anyhow, when we were back returning our balls we were talking with the guy, who was spooky looking in his own right. It was at this point he started talking about the fact that "years ago" he had a "raging drug habit." When questioning him on his particular pharmo interests - most of it was hallucinogens (LSD and the like). Anyhow, he was pretty free offering up this information and it reaffirmed the fact that this guy probably shouldnt be working at a mini-golf course - even one that was pretty alcohol friendly.
Overall, this was a really weird experience and would have to be one of those ones which you "had to be there." Needless to say, I still like the place and havent seen that guy since. Hopefully he's doing ok, but Im pretty sure he's in jail.
As for the "Good for kids?" Im firmly in the "Not Sure" category.
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Old Peter Pan probably hasn't changed since 'Nam. We rolled up to find out that this fine golfing establishment was cash only, luckily the BMX biker gang lurking and somewhat running the counter said- "Whatever... go ahead and play dude."
At first we were surprised to see people walking around with Tall boys of High Life, but apparently old Peter Pan is BYOB (at least when the biker gang is in charge)
A couple of the "obstacles" had new holes (i.e. Rabbit hole with augmented exit hole, if you know what I mean!) It looks like people may be up to more than just playing golf with Peter Pans friends.
Pack some tall boys, and hit the links. Look out for that biker gang!
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Wish I grew up having BYOB mini-golf...but growing up in Utah you don't get a lot of things. The course is fun but not amazing. The BYOB and the course is much better! We come here every once in awhile and always have a great time
Can't wait to return.
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Peter Pan Mini Golf seems unchanged from its original incarnation decades ago - the imposing concrete animals are shoddily repaired & sloppily painted, and weeds have overtaken the patches of dirt between the concrete pathways. And still, it's a ridiculously charming place. The hilltop location and quaint design fill me with satisfaction that it's still around, and a fear that in two years it will be turned into a stretch of unsold condos. And best if all, it's a mere $3/game!
I brought the boy, his friend A and her folks to the course on a breezy, overcast Sunday: a good choice, it turns out, for the four and under set, an age group unsold on the value of doing anything "in order". They were able to play holes two, three, even eight times over because they were the only ones on the course. The alligator head proved particularly appealing because of its multi-level design, but my kiddo's ultimate favorite was the whale, because "the ball goes in his mouth and out his butt!"
We played the "easy" course, suitable for 2-6 year olds, but undaunted, both ducked under the rope to do the "loop" on the more difficult course.
I hope to keep bringing them back over the years, and hope "progress" allows this vintage slice of Austin to remain untouched.
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This place is great for the fact that it has never changed. Hell I would even bet the place hasn't seen a coat of paint since it was originally built, but don't get me wrong, this in no way takes away from the experience that you will have there, in my opinion it adds to the flavor of the place.
Things I love: BYOB makes for a fun cheap date with the girlfriend where we can relax and play some putt putt and crack up at my most awful golf skills. 2 sets of holes to play, it is nice to be able to play a different set each time I go or if I have not had my fill of mini golf after 18 holes there are different ones to play. The fact that the system does not keep my ball after 18 holes, replayability is a huge bonus....most newer courses do not give you the option it just swallows your ball and you are done. And of course price, place is like pocket change for the amount of fun you can have, not alot of places left that pack as much fun into such a low price.
Loses one star on Parking alone. Sometimes it can be an absolute nightmare but then again where in Austin is parking not terrible?
If you need a fun night out for low amount of dough this is where I would go. It may not be much on the eyes but it is magic for the soul.
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I have always loved Putt Putt and have many memories of it growing up as a child. As an adult I love that atmosphere of this location and absolutely love that it is BYOB.
Good times, great courses and great beers...where can you go wrong for a fun night?
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I think the people who love this place are either nostalgic or really drunk. It does totally fit in with South Austin, but it just wasn't my thing. There's a sign that says No Glass Bottles but no one seems to be enforcing that. I got bit up by ants & mosquitoes, there's a train that goes by right outside, the parking is terrible, and what is up with the nazi pirate? The staff was nice. The kids had fun and that's the most important thing but I can't see going back again.
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So much fun fun FUN! but not too much fun to go to if it's the high 90s with 98% humidity at midnight and you're trying to get your drink on while playing some mini-golf. I liked to pass out!
I like how as you near the end of the course the benches increase. That's good planning and a sign that Peter Pan has been in Austin since the dawn of time.
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This place probably hasn't had any renovations done to it in 20 years, the characters on the holes are a little creepy, like the dog that looks like a huge brown penis from the wrong angle, and the course was soaked when we were there. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was good times. And it was cheap, too.
My guess is that this would be a great place to play 18-36 holes when you're under the influence, but I settled for a hangover.
There are 2 18-hole courses and the west side was the hard side, but it wasn't too hard. So I say go for that one.
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When my Man-friend says "date night?" I almost always think "Peter Pan!"
It's cheap*, right around the corner, & byob. Few things are better than showing off your competitive side with a beer in hand.
The cement creatures are old and beat to hell (totally charming), you will find everything from Peter himself, to the giant white Rabbit who has a hole in his ass - looks to have been created by someone's putter.
What you won't find? TinkerBell. Wheelchair ramps. Food.
Not being a breeder, I like this place because we can go here for a date and not have kids swarming around us for 18 holes. If you go at the right time you will be able to drink, putt, & curse without having to censor yourself.
*18 holes $5 & 36 holes $7
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Any golf course where the caddies carry more beer than clubs is tops in my book. Granted, at Peter Pan you are your own caddy, but still, I find golf more fun when carting around intoxicating liquid refreshment as opposed to woods and irons.
Peter Pan has two 18-hole courses, simply called "east" and "west". Both courses are populated with semi-disturbing cement characters in various poses. Some of these characters even come with backstories, as my group discovered when we played the whale hole on the east course. A friend shot her ball into the whale's mouth, where it disappeared. We went around to the green behind the whale, but there was no sign of her ball. Right then, a member of another party who was an apparent Peter Pan veteran informed us that the ball was lodged in whale's posterior, and that she would have to stuff the handle of her club up the whale's backside to dislodge it. So she sprawled on the green and violated the whale with her club until the ball popped loose. This is why a camera is as essential as beer when going to Peter Pan.
Tips for a good night at Peter Pan:
1. Bring beer.
2. Don't use dark-colored balls if you can avoid it.
3. Don't bring kids after 8pm on a Saturday night unless you want to expose them to booze-addled adults using colorful language.
4. Bring your own food, if so inclined.
We played both courses for only $5 a person. They didn't even charge us for the ball we lost. It was a great deal for a couple of rounds of mini golf with a marine proctology lesson thrown in.
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I've decided this is my new haunt. I've been here a few times this summer and it totally rules, mostly because no one cares when a member of my party gets drunk and throws their club at the cement animals. I take my sweet cooler that I bought for tubing and looks like a diaper bag and holds 30 cans (!!) and my lady friend and our friends and we have a friendly little competition.
Really, this is pretty much the most fun you can have for $5. The last time we were there we played all 36 holes for $5 because the dude behind the counter was very whatever about us going for another round.
Yes, the course is kind of rundown (my friend apparently had to lift up the little house to get a ball out and watched someone jab the whale with their club to get the ball out). Yes, sometimes their are a bunch of people. Yes, in the summer it's real hot, even at 11 pm. But, bring a couple of six packs of Lonestar tallboys, a good attitude (not difficult for me after several tallboys), your diaper bag cooler, and some friendly competition and I promise you'll have fun.
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This hasto be the worst mini golf i've ever golfed. The course is soooo boring! I need another putt putt to satisfy my cravings. Oh yea, and when I went, they were out of sno cones. And I'm not talking like flavors, I'm talking ice. WHAT?
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Peter Pan is an Austin classic. It's in a great location and it's BYOB. Great on a Sunday afternoon.
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I haven't played mini golf in years. Like, we are talking a lot of years here. And all the fun memories of that came sloshing back to me, but this time beer was involved! Score! It's BYOB at Peter Pan. It's small and old, but it's fun and has creepy cement characters to distract you with.
We went around 11pm and holy bat balls was it hot/humid. I was sweating profusely while putting our 18 holes. It wasn't that I worked up a sweat, it was just so damn hot out. At least I had a beer. Beer can sometimes make things better. So it was the beer and the anus hole that did it for me. Yes, I said anus hole. It's redundant, but if you go and play on the right hand side course, you will see what I mean.
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I've always had a crush on Peter Pan. Ever since I was a wee one, I loved going to Peter Pan Mini-Golf. I always looked over at him as we would drive by. I always secretly wanted my name on the marquee.
With incredibly warm weather on a Sunday in February, several of us headed over to Peter Pan to hit a few balls around. The bad puns flew, the laughter was thick, the competition was fierce.
It's simple enough for kids, or kids at heart (or kids in their thinking). It's fun enough for adults--you can cart around your own beer. Um, hello?! What could be better than drinking with a huge rabbit, a big skull, a dinosaur, a pirate and Peter Pan by your side?
Like the others have said--part of the charm is that absolutely nothing has changed in the past several years, except maybe a few dabs of spackle here and there.
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No frat party tonight, and your fake ID keeps getting rejected? Then have I got the activity for you! There's nothing like shotgunning beers in front of a 8-foot-tall concrete rabbit while your brah tries to sink his putt. Just think of it as good practice for future weekends at the country club green.
The best part, other than the Nazi Pirate (see photo)? The story I overheard some drunken college dude telling his friend about the time he was on a real golf course with his friend and, "It was awesome--a crawdad crawled out of the water and he just slammed it with his club. It totally exploded and half of it went flying!" Pretty sweet, eh?
I think that this is probably the worst mini-golf course I've ever been to, including the super-crappy one in Beaverton, OR, and the one I built in my family's backyard when I was like, 10.*
*Which later led to my brother accidentally hitting one of my sisters square in the eye with a golf ball. She only had to wear an eyepatch for about a week, don't worry.
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My grandpa took me here when I was a kid and it's every bit as fun now as it was then! The main difference for me is that now I can drink beer while I putt putt, doesn't beer just make everything better?
Oh and it's cheap too. Why don't we have more mini golf in Austin? One just isn't enough.
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My boy had his 9th birthday party here recently and we had the best time! There were kids and adults of all ages.
The guy that was working the desk gave us bug spray to use (while my dad went to the closest CVS to buy plenty), stored our cake behind the counter, doted on the kiddos, was polite, helpful and oh so sweet.
The whole party was just a load of fun and everyone had a great time.
I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids with us posing with all sorts of animals and such for funny pics.
What matters most, though - is my son said he had an awesome time and liked it just as much as his Main Event party last year.
Kudos to that!
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Mini golf.
Golf for losers.
Or people that don't really like golf and just wanna hang. ( that's me.)
God, I have made an ass o' myself here soooo many times. I'm not particularly good at golf. I'm the one putting it aroooound and aroooound until someone gives up , takes the ball and physically puts it in the hole. Nice.
Although, I didn't know you could bring beer here! Thanks for the tip Larry M.
For mini golf on the south side (yes, Barton Springs IS south side to me!) It cant be beat.
Parking sucks, but then again I park illegally at the biking place across the street after they close. But lets just keep that on the DL ,shall we.
I'm groovin for golf!
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this place gets 5 stars for having a huge-ass creepy peter pan on the front staring down at you like it was gon' eat ya.
True true, this place is falling apart and looks soooo freaking old. It's cheap though. that's all i can really say. it's cheap and it opens late! fun place to go to if you are bored etc and need a place to hang or cry.
jeebus that peter pan freaks me out.
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BYOB!
I dig it. Love this place.
It's mini golf. Not much more to say. I mean, its mini-golf, you know? Just do what Sara G. said and go for the 36 holes.
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Peter Pan Mini Golf rules. This place is so much fun, it should be outlawed. Up above south Lamar, where there are plenty of awesome places to get a drink or have a bite to eat, PeterPan sprawls out like an Oasis amongst the concrete. Most of the players at night tend to be a little older, the music selections are always just right on the bullhorn speakers above, and it's pretty darn cheap.
Parking can be tough if it's crowded, but on most nights it is not too terrible. Highly recommended.
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Ok, even here you will find chicks decked out with earrings and bangles on a Saturday afternoon wishing they were in the Pussycat Dolls. Little hint: it's Putt-Putt. And oh yea: park at McDonald's. I mean really? Stalking a spot in front of the Peter Pan??? Losers!
A group that I am affiliated with had a charity/raise money event at PeterPan last September (2005). Not only were they really easy to work with, but everyone had a blast. The kids loved it!
One BIG drawback: Parking. Parking can be a real pain.
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Mini-golf as it ought to be - weird!
There are plenty of creepy looming characters that force you to picture macabre scenes while attempting to concentrate enough to sink that putt.
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I lovvvvvvvvvvvve mini golf. i'm not super good at it, but i love it. if there was a nationwide tour to get to the LPMGA, I would so be there. But I digress...
Even if I didn't like (okay, love) mini golf, I think I would still appreciate (and love) the kitsch factor of peter pan mini golf. How old is this place? It's like old time Americana! A place you would see off some old US highway in the middle of nowhere. But it's right here! In the middle of Austin!! Major points for being the EASIEST mini golf to get to (that I know of). Who doesn't like driving down Barton Springs and seeing the giant plaster dinosaur?? You can't miss it!
I subtract one star because what would make it perfect would be a hole with moving parts -- like getting it thru a windmill without getting hit by the blades or something cool. But since it's possible this was built before electricity existed, that may be modernizing a bit too much.
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I love mini-golf and have very high mini-golf standards. You might call me a mini-golf snob.
The course is well-maintained and there are some interesting obstacles. The place has been around for more than fifty years (the attendant told us that they opened in either '42 or '48 and haven't looked back).
It started pouring when we were on the 11th hole and they were nice enough to give us a raincheck. In the literal sense of the word.
The only drawback is that the course isn't super challenging. But it was still fun fun fun.
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Ok what were they smoking when they designed this place, and where can I get some?
SUCH a find, and I have no urge to just tee off with constant disregard since they folks who worked here were so cool.
You can bring beer, is cheap as balls, they were blasting Dixie Chicks (just like Schlitterbahn...hmmmmm) and despite (or in spite of) the abandoned/ deteriorating amusement park feel, easy to get into the zone.
We need to do a yelp thang here. Seriously.
Would love to see our presence planted on that blinking yellow light arrow outside.
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BYOB, need I say more? Or that is at least what my friends told me when we went over there to play some mini-golf.
We had a pretty good time, the course is not all that well kept or anything, but again it doesn't matter when it is byob.
I imagine you could have fun there sober and what not, so check it out.
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OH man, the memoriez I have with Peter Pan Mini-Golf!!!! When I was a kid this place was like heaven....When my parents would take me here as a surprise in the MIDDLE of the week, I just KNEW I had done SOMEthing to put a smile on their face lol.....I still enjoy going there for the occasional game of mini-golf although I don't think I've been there in ages.....guess its time to puuull out the calendar and make a date ;) t.t.f.n
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I've had a long relationship with Peter Pan Mini-Golf. I remember this place from a vacation to Austin as a small child. Who knew, two decades later I'd be living here and still playing the mini golf. I've had dates here, brought groups of out-of-town-friends here, wasted time here on gorgeous afternoons with nothing to do and nowhere to go. It's old, poorly maintained, and a little creepy. And I always wonder if the ever-changing birthday wish on the sign out front has made-up names--some of them are odd. But it is Austin. And Peter Pan is an Austin icon.
Writing about it makes me want to go play now!
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Imagine, if you will, a place where you can goof around, drink beer, and play mini golf. Even if you haven't ever seen it in your life, you are currently imagining Peter Pan Mini-Golf. This place is awesome. They have two 18 hole courses, and you can play both. Go with friends. Go for an excuse to get out of the house, away from the usual bar scene, and have a few while playing an old-school mini golf course. Most people are very sociable and are there for exactly the same reason as you: The 25 foot statues of the T-Rex.
If you go with a big group, and by this I mean more than 5 people, it is probably a good idea to split into two smaller groups. You'll take a little less time getting though the courses, and since the 18th holes don't steal your ball like newer mini golf courses, you can play as long as you want, or until they close. Parking can also be difficult, but that's no excuse not to go.
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We stopped out here tonite after dinner so we could enjoy the sunshine just a little bit longer. We decided to play 18 holes, which was a mistake, we should have gone for 36. It's only $2 more but it makes the fun last twice as long. Although it didnt take long to get through the course, we had a good time while we were out there. I'll definitely go back, next time for 36 holes and with a few beers in hand.
The only reason I'm not giving it more stars is because the guy behind the counter was on HIS phone the whole time we were at the window, and because the course was traveled so quickly. For $5 i was hoping to get a whole hour of fun, ah well.
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I'm not very good at miniature golf. Sometimes I score into the double digits on one hole. I usually lose and I hate losing. I don't use the work hate much, but I'll use it with losing. I often don't have fun when I'm losing.
Peter Pan mini-golf takes that edge off a bit, and I still have a good time there even though I know that the 6 year old behind me is going to end up with a better score than I will. The obstacles, such as the giant dinosaur statue, are fun and interesting.
Plus I can always say, "I would have gotten a way from that hole with a lower score if it hadn't have been for that meddling Tyrannosaurus Rex!"
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lots of fun here. if you havent taken your kids mini golfing in a while, this is a neat place. it seems very austin. not all new and shinny. the course definitely looks to be a bit dated but is still fun to play on.
