Challenges and twists make Congo River a top-notch mini-golf course for family fun.
The plane really brings things together.
Just South of Daytona Beach’s boardwalk, you’ll find Congo River Miniature Golf. Congo River is a Florida chain with several locations across the state. The Daytona location is tucked between Pirate’s Cove in Ormond Beach and Pirate’s Island in Port Orange. Though it has to compete with so many other beach-adjacent courses, Congo River is a standout mini-golfing experience with plenty to love.
Congo River features an 18-hole adventure course. Each hole tells a piece of a story, tying in to the adventure theme. Certain holes feature challenge wheels which give players a way to spice up their play. The challenges range from sabotage missions like “get a hole-in-one to add a stroke to another player’s score” to twists like “hit your first shot with the club upside down”. These are great for keeping younger golfers entertained throughout the course. There is also a simple scavenger hunt that earns your group a prize upon completion.
The challenge wheel on the right called for one-foot balance and a human obstacle.
These aren’t just distractions, either. The course is packed with interesting obstacles and holes of varying pars. The variety keeps the playthrough fresh, and this course probably has the best use of water features we’ve seen so far.
Ryan’s review
In short, this course did the two most important things very well: it entertained the kids and played smoothly. Carson brought a friend for this one and they were loving the over-the-top challenge wheels. They enjoyed them so much that they were running back to previous wheels to get challenges for non-challenge holes.
The course feels like an adventure from start to finish.
Meanwhile, I was taking in the design of the holes and the course’s fantastic aesthetic. The whole thing feels like an Indiana Jones adventure, between the vague islander imagery and the crashed plane. While a tropical theme isn’t necessarily unique to Florida mini-golf, the whole design plays into it. For example, one hole features a step down into a tomb-like area. You hit around a tilted sarcophagus to find the par 2 hole. While the obstacle is straightforward, the design elevates it to a fun play. Meanwhile, other holes feature more complex obstacles. A standout is the 18th, which at first glance seems like you need to evade a branch path that dumps into the river. However, on further inspection, you’ll find that the river leads almost directly to the hole. It’s a fun twist on expectations.
This course is a bit pricier than others, but it’s worth it for the fun. Don’t forget to ask about holding the alligator, too.
Overall Rating: 5/5 golf balls
Carson’s review
I loved how they incorporated the scavenger hunt and the challenge wheels in the entire course. I enjoyed being able to hold the gator, too. I also liked how the actually put a river in Congo River. I disliked how the river was in play sometimes, but the creators of those holes put bars over it so you couldn’t lose your ball. Waterfall got some of the nearby greens wet, but it was worth it.
Overall Rating: 5/5 golf balls
Carson’s new best friend.