Thanks to Indianapolis Museum of Art for hosting us. For more details, please see my disclosure policy.
Summer’s here and you might be looking for some ways to entertain your kids while also sneaking in a bit of learning. Whether you’re a local resident or visiting Indianapolis for a family vacation, consider adding the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s mini golf course to your summer bucket list. A kid-friendly attraction within the walls of a world class art museum means that there’s something for everyone when you visit!
The 2nd annual mini golf course features the work of 18 different artists, who designed each of the holes for this year’s theme, Nature. From the whimsical to the downright challenging, you’ll have no problems waging a friendly competition as you play through all 18 holes of the course. Many of the artists’ designs reflect local culture and geography which you can casually discuss as you set up your shots. See, I told you you can sneak some learning in!
The course is open from May 28 – Sept 3 during regular museum hours including evening hours until 9pm on Thursdays. Mini golf is included with the price of admission to the IMA. On free admission days (see the Museum’s website for a full list), the mini golf course is available for only $8. Parking is free in both the surface lot and garage.
My family and I recently got to experience the course on a beautiful sunny morning and are already planning to return. Follow the mini golf flags to the 2nd floor and out onto the terrace and you’ll find the clubhouse where you can pick up your clubs, balls and scorecard. If the course is busy, try starting with Hole 10 and then working your way back to do the first 9 holes. Make sure you save the 18th until the end since it collects your ball.
You’ll want to apply plenty of sunscreen and grab your shades since the area is in full sun most of the day. However, there are plenty of umbrellas to duck under and shaded picnic tables to keep you cool. In the heat of the summer, I’d suggest aiming for a morning or evening tee time to lessen some of your exposure to the sun.
Drinks and snacks are available for purchase at the clubhouse as well in case you work up an appetite scoring all those hole-in-ones. After we finished our round of golf we ducked back into the museum to cool off in the beautiful galleries. My kids especially loved the Children’s Area which features lots of interactive art experiences for the whole family. Feel free to spend more time exploring the 152-acre campus with it’s lush gardens and large collection of art. It’s a great value for the price of a single admission.
Mini Golf at the IMA makes it easy to squeeze a little bit of culture and art into your summer as you play with your kids. Your whole family will appreciate the chance to explore the Indianapolis Museum of Art in this fun and interactive way, and your kids won’t even notice that they are practicing those geometry skills as they putt their way through the course!
Note: For out-of-town visitors, the IMA is conveniently located a few miles northwest of downtown and just minutes from other local attractions like The Children’s Museum and Tarkington Park.
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I may be nearly 30 but I’m obsessed with mini golf!!
This is such a fun course! The completely re-do it each year with new artists and a new theme. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.
That’s so cool! What a great idea!