By Holley Long
Mini golf is a beloved pastime for many reasons. It’s interactive, it’s perfect for a daytime or nighttime activity, and it’s downright fun. With the right theming, a mini golf course can make groups of players feel like kids again, pretending to have adventures in their backyard.
And if one of those adventures ever involved living the pirate’s life, we know just the place to bring those imaginings to reality.
The History
Orlando’s Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is located on I-Drive, but the golf chain dates back to 1983, when the first course opened in Traverse City, Michigan. Today, Pirate’s Cove has over twenty locations across over a dozen states, and each course is dedicated to providing an entertaining and fun time for the whole family, from the captains of the ship to the youngest buccaneers.
The Orlando Pirate’s Cove location includes two courses, the Captain’s Course and Blackbeard’s Challenge, and with each hole the lore of 18th century buccaneers comes to life amidst a backdrop of waterfalls, greenery, and quite a bit of pirate-themed decor.
The Course
I had the pleasure of playing 18 holes at Pirate’s Cove. We played the Captain’s Course because I was told it was the easier of the two offered, but there were still plenty of obstacles to avoid, like bumps, rocks, and even precarious ledges—if your putt is careless, your ball may just plunge over those ledges into the flowing streams below.
The flowing water makes for a relaxing ambiance that separates golfers from the hustle and bustle of International Drive (where the course is located). The pirate-themed decor also leaves you fully immersed in the experience. Chests of treasure, cannons and cannonballs set the scene of a nautical adventure, while statues of pirates are frozen in acts of mischief—and, if you look closely, you may see some who have been thrown overboard of Pirate’s Cove’s massive pirate ship.
Charity Events
Pirate’s Cove is not just a fun place to test your skills on the green. The company is also dedicated to giving back to the community. Putting for Patriots, which concluded this Memorial Day, is an annual fundraising event that supports charities serving wounded soldiers, their families, and Veterans suffering from PTSD.
Each May, Pirate’s Cove and other golf course chains come together to donate a percent of their Memorial Day weekend sales and accept customer donations for Veteran-related non-profits, to date raising over $600,000 for those charities.
Still to come for 2023 is Putting for Progress, a fundraising event that supports charities related to education and autism. The event will take place in August and finish on Labor Day weekend.
Overall
The theming, scenery, and healthy competition found at Pirate’s Cove makes it a hole in one. So next time you’re at a loss for what to do with friends and family, head to the mini golf course—you might just live the pirate’s life of your dreams for a few hours!
A big thank you to Pirate's Cove for hosting us and allowing us to experience their Pirate-themed Mini Golfing experience!
International Drive
International Drive is Orlando’s tourist hot spot. It’s home to numerous businesses, restaurants, shops and entertainment centers and is in close proximity to famed theme parks such as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Disney World. It’s the perfect area for doing all things Orlando! Interested in finding a home nearby?
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